Chalcolithic Villages in India
Q.1 (A) Choose the correct alternative and write the complete sentences.
(1) On one of the cemetery H pots dead humans are seen carried by …….. in their stomach.
(a) deer (b) peacock
(c) fish (d) bull
Answer: peacock
(2) The archaeological evidence shows that Balathal was a centre of mass production of ……..
(a) stone pots (b) copper pots
(c) earthen pots (d) glassware
Answer: earthen pots.
(3) Permanent villages of farmers were first established in Maharashtra by ……… people.
(a) Savalda (b) Malwa
(c) Harappa (d) Kayatha
Answer: Malwa
(B) Find the incorrect pair from set B write the correct ones.
| Set ‘A’ | Set ‘B’ |
| (1) Savalda Culture | Daimabad |
| (2) Malwa Culture | Navadatoli |
| (3) Ahar Culture | Sonpur |
| (4) Jorwe Culture | Inamgaon |
Answer: (3) Ahar Culture – Balathal (or Gilund)
Q.2 (A) Explain the statements with reasons.
(1) Harappan people had to migrate.
Answer: The Mature Harappan civilization collapsed, leading to the dispersal of its people. The urban Harappans and Late Harappans, who had settled on the ruins of Harappan cities, faced the absence of the advanced architecture and town planning of the Mature Harappan period. As a result, they migrated to other regions, giving rise to new rural cultures known as Chalcolithic cultures, which were influenced by their knowledge of wheel-made pottery, agriculture, and copper technology.
(2) People of ‘Malwa’ culture were the first farmers of Maharashtra.
Answer: The Malwa culture arrived in Maharashtra around 1600 B.C.E. and established permanent villages of farmers. They introduced settled agriculture, cultivating crops like wheat, barley, and lentils, and built spacious, rectangular houses. Their contact with local Neolithic people led to advancements in pottery and farming techniques, marking them as the first farmers in Maharashtra, followed by the development of the Jorwe culture.
Q.3 State your opinion.
It seems that the Harappan people had gone as far as Bihar.
Answer: I agree with this statement to some extent. Archaeological evidence, such as black-and-red ware pottery found at Chalcolithic sites like Chirand and Sonpur in Bihar, shows similarities with Harappan pottery shapes. This suggests that Harappan people or their cultural influence reached Bihar, likely through migration or trade after the decline of the Harappan civilization. However, more research is needed to confirm whether these were direct settlements or cultural exchanges with local populations.
Q.4 Write short notes.
(1) Banas Culture
Answer: Also known as Ahar culture, the Banas culture was located in the Mewad region of Rajasthan, contemporary with the Harappan civilization, dated to around 4000 B.C.E. Key sites include Balathal and Gilund near Udaipur. Balathal was a major center for pottery production, supplying black-and-red ware to other settlements. The culture used copper tools, stone blades, and terracotta figurines, and built houses with baked bricks in the English bond method. Evidence of a fortification wall and copper smelting indicates close contact with the Harappans, possibly supplying them with copper from Khetri mines.
(2) Malwa Culture
Answer: Originating in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh around 1800-1200 B.C.E., this culture spread to Maharashtra by 1600 B.C.E. Key sites include Navadatoli, Eran, and Nagda. The Malwa people were farmers and animal husbanders, cultivating crops like wheat and barley. They used buff-colored pottery with brown designs and built settlements with protective walls. In Maharashtra, they established permanent farming villages, influencing the development of the Jorwe culture through contact with local Neolithic groups.
(3) Kayatha Culture
Answer: Located in Madhya Pradesh near Ujjain on the Chhoti Kali Sindh river, the Kayatha culture was contemporary with the Harappan civilization. Its people practiced agriculture and animal husbandry, using handmade pots, microliths, copper axes, and bangles. Artefacts like necklaces of semi-precious stones and steatite beads were found. The culture had early contact with the Harappans, predating the rise of Harappan cities, and co-existed briefly with the Ahar culture in Madhya Pradesh.
Q.5 Write about the chalcolithic cultures in Gujarat with the help of the given points.
(a) Period
Answer: The Chalcolithic cultures in Gujarat span three phases: Early Harappan (3950-2600 B.C.E.), Mature Harappan (2600-1900 B.C.E.), and Post-Harappan (1900-900 B.C.E.). Post-Harappan cultures like Prabhas and Rangpur existed until 1800-1200 B.C.E.
(b) Means of livelihood
Answer: The Chalcolithic people in Gujarat were primarily pastoral, engaging in animal husbandry. Some were semi-nomadic. They also practiced agriculture and had a significant industry for making beads from semi-precious stones, which were abundant in the region.
(c) Geographical spread
Answer: Chalcolithic settlements were spread across Gujarat, including Kutch, Saurashtra, and northern and southern Gujarat. Key post-Harappan cultures included Prabhas in south Gujarat and Rangpur in northeastern Gujarat.
(d) Evidence of cultural contact with other people
Answer: The Chalcolithic pottery in Gujarat shows regional variations but shares similarities with Late Harappan pottery in color, shapes, and designs, indicating cultural contact with the Harappans. The bead-making industry suggests trade with Harappan centers, as semi-precious stones were procured by Neolithic and Chalcolithic communities. The abandonment of Kutch-Saurashtra villages by 1900 B.C.E. aligns with the decline of the Harappan civilization, further supporting interaction between these groups.
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