Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Chalcolithic Cultures
Archaeological culture
Level 2
c. 3,000–700 BCE
Copper-and-stone age farming cultures of Rajasthan, Malwa and the Deccan.
- Region
- Central
- Duration
- 2,300 years
- Main period
- Late Harappan Cultures
Approximate extent.
Constituent & related polities
Ahar-Banas Culture
c. 3,000–1,500 BCE
Malwa Culture
c. 1,700–1,200 BCE
Jorwe Culture
c. 1,500–900 BCE
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| c. 1,700 BCE | Malwa culture at Navdatoli | Navdatoli |
| c. 1,400 BCE | Jorwe farming villages at Inamgaon | Inamgaon |
Sites & monuments
Ahar
Archaeological site · c. 3,000 BCE
Type site of the Ahar-Banas culture.
Inamgaon
Archaeological site · c. 1,600 BCE
Large Jorwe settlement.
📚 Recommended reading on the Chalcolithic Cultures
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Reference
A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India
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Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Chalcolithic Cultures for a significant part of its history.
Mehrgarh Cultural Tradition ★
Northwest · c. 7,000–2,600 BCE
Indus / Harappan Civilization ★
Northwest · c. 3,300–1,300 BCE
Early Vedic Communities ★
Northwest · c. 1,500–1,000 BCE
Neolithic Kashmir (Burzahom)
North · c. 3,000–1,500 BCE
South Indian Neolithic (Ash-mound cultures)
South · c. 3,000–1,200 BCE
Ochre Coloured Pottery Culture
Gangetic Plain · c. 2,000–1,500 BCE
Kuru
North · c. 1,200–350 BCE
Gandhara
Northwest · c. 1,200–518 BCE
Panchala
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Kosala
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,100–460 BCE
Videha
East · c. 1,100–600 BCE
Matsya
West · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Later Vedic Polities
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–600 BCE
Kashi
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–500 BCE
Chedi
Central · c. 1,000–300 BCE
Vatsa
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–400 BCE
Avanti
Central · c. 1,000–345 BCE
Surasena
North · c. 800–350 BCE
Kamboja
Northwest · c. 800–330 BCE