Chalcolithic Pottery as a Source of History | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

The first metal widely used by the end of the Neolithic period was Copper, marking the beginning of the Chalcolithic period. This era is named Chalcolithic because it was characterized by the prevalence of both stone and copper tools.

• During the Chalcolithic period, there was no established literary tradition. Our understanding of the culture from this time relies heavily on archaeological sources, with pottery being a significant source of historical information. The pottery from this period, mainly Black and Red pottery, was produced using both wheel-making and hand-making techniques.
• Chalcolithic pottery serves as a valuable source of historical insight into the culture and lifestyles of people during this time, despite the absence of a written script.

Chalcolithic pottery

Advanced Ceramic Industry

• Pottery was a crucial craft in the Chalcolithic period, with both wheel-made and hand-made pottery being produced.
• The pottery was well-fired, often using the inverted firing technique, resulting in a black interior and a red exterior. This indicates the advanced pottery-making technology known to people at the time.
• The variety in the Chalcolithic ceramic industry included pottery of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Examples of pottery associated with various Chalcolithic cultures include:

Jodhpura Culture

• Characterized by orange to red wheel-thrown ware with incised designs.

Ganeshwar Culture

• Featured wheel-made and handmade coarse red-slipped pottery with incised designs, typically in the shape of bowls and jars.

Ahar Culture

• Yielded seven main wares, with the white painted black-and-red ware being distinctive.
• Common shapes included bowls, jars, and dishes. Large quantities of red and grey wares were also found.

Rangpur Culture

• Known for fine fabric red ware with a bright red slip, high polish, and black paintings.

Malwa Culture

• Included wheel-made buff or cream slipped pottery, painted in black or brown.
• Vessel shapes included lotas, bowls, storage jars, channel spouted bowls, and pedestaled goblets, with rich forms and vivid painted designs.

Savalda Culture

• Featured wheel-made ware with medium to coarse fabric, thick slip in varying shades of brown, and painted designs in black or purplish red.
• Included high-necked jars, basins, dishes-on-stand, dishes, and bowls.

Jorwe Culture

• Noted for wheel-made, well-fired pottery with fine fabric and a variety of designs and forms.
• Typical forms included globular high-necked jars, spouted jars, and carinated bowls.

Use of Different Colors

• The use of various colors in pottery reflects the aesthetic sense of Chalcolithic people and their knowledge of creating different colors from natural rocks.

Different Sizes and Shapes of Pottery

• The variety of sizes and shapes in pottery indicates different uses and the lifestyle of Chalcolithic people.
• For example:
• Large storage jars suggest storage of food grains, indicating agricultural surplus.
• Perforated jars may have been used for winemaking.
• Narrow-necked jars were likely used for storing water.

Burial Practices

• Pottery also provides insights into burial practices of the Chalcolithic period.
• Grave goods found in pottery at several Chalcolithic burial sites suggest a belief in an afterlife and the emergence of social inequalities.

Contact and Influence of Harappan Civilization

• Similarities between the wheel-made pottery of Ganeshwar and early Harappan pottery suggest cultural contact.
• Harappan pottery was found at Ganeshwar culture sites, indicating interaction between the two cultures.

Trade in Pottery

• Inamgaon pottery was found at distant sites, indicating trade in pottery.

Agriculture

• Pottery provides information about agriculture, with charred grains of rice and impressions of paddy husks suggesting rice as the principal cereal.

Paintings on Pottery

• Paintings on pottery, including stylized naturalistic designs and geometric patterns, reflect the advanced aesthetic sense of Chalcolithic people and may carry religious significance.
• Paintings of boats hint at long-distance trade or boat transport.
• Religious beliefs may be inferred from depictions of the Sun, mother goddess, and geometric designs.
• Paintings of fish suggest fishing activities, while depictions of domesticated dogs and cattle indicate animal husbandry.

Limitations of Pottery as a Source

• Pottery reflects only material culture in parts and does not present a complete picture.
• Interpretations regarding pottery use and significance need to be corroborated with other sources like tools, implements, settlement patterns, and burial practices.