The Chalcolithic period marked the transition from the Neolithic culture to a settled village society characterized by the use of both stone and metal tools. 

• The term “Chalcolithic” is derived from the Greek words “chalco” (copper) and “lithic” (stone), signifying the use of copper alongside stone tools. 
• This phase, which succeeded the Neolithic and preceded the Bronze Age, saw significant developments in agriculture, domestication, pottery, and metallurgy.

Key Features of Chalcolithic Culture

• Transition to Metal Use:

  • Copper was the first metal used in Indian culture, marking the beginning of the Stone-Copper phase.
  • Settled village life with agriculture and domestication of animals flourished during this time.

• Pottery:

  • Various types of pottery, such as Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP), were prevalent.
  • OCP sites include regions in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh.

• Significance of Harappan Civilization:

  • The Chalcolithic phase’s brightest chapter is the Harappan or Indus Valley civilization, showcasing advanced urban planning and cultural richness.

Tools and Artifacts of the Chalcolithic Era: Stone and Copper Innovations

• Stone and Copper Tools:
  • Tools included blades, pen knives, lunates, triangles, and trapezes.
  • Copper objects like flat axes, arrowheads, chisels, fishhooks, and beads were common.
• Artifacts:
  • Discoveries at Daimabad include bronze sculptures of a rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, and a two-wheeled chariot.
  • Kayatha (Chambal Valley) revealed copper tools with sharp edges, reflecting advanced craftsmanship.

Subsistence Economy During Chalcolithic Culture

• Agriculture and Domestication:
  • Primary crops included rice, barley, lentils, wheat, jowar, and gram.
  • Cotton cultivation was common in black soil regions.
  • Domesticated animals included cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, and horses.
• Housing:
  • Rectangular and circular mud houses with thatched roofs were prevalent.
  • Floors were made of burnt clay or river gravels.
• Dietary Practices:
  • Hunting and fishing supplemented agriculture and animal husbandry.

Non-Harappan Chalcolithic Cultures

• Ahar Culture

• • • Found in Mewar, Rajasthan, with prominent sites at Ahar and Balathal.
    • Evidence of rice cultivation and other crops like wheat, barley, and millets.
    • Domesticated animals included cattle, buffalo, and goats.
    • Pottery included black and red ware.

• Kayatha Culture:

• • • Found in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
    • Chocolate-slipped ceramics, including bowls and storage jars.
    • Mixed economy with farming, stock raising, and hunting.
    • Evidence of chalcedony blade production and bead manufacturing.

• Malwa Culture:

• • • Central India, identified at Maheshwar on the Narmada River.
    • Use of mud and fire bricks in construction.
    • Spread to Maharashtra, with key sites at Daimabad and Inamgaon.
    • Painted ceramics and terracotta female figurines.

• Jorwe Culture:

• • Predominantly in Maharashtra, with key sites at Inamgaon and Daimabad.
  • Dry farming with crops like barley, wheat, and rice.
  • Villages characterized by black cotton soil regions.

• Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP):

• Fragile, incised patterns.
• Found at sites like Atranjikhera and Jodhpur.
• Associated with sedentary farming communities.

• Painted Grey Ware (PGW):

• • Fine, smooth pottery with high-quality clay.
  • Concentrated in the Indo-Gangetic divide, Sutlej basin, and Upper Ganga plains.
  • Double cropping and animal husbandry were practiced.

Significance of Chalcolithic Cultures

• Cultural Development:
  • The transition from hunting-gathering to food production.
  • Craft specialization and trade networks.
• Urbanization:
  • Laid the foundation for urban centers in the succeeding Bronze Age.
• Technological Advancements:
  • Early metallurgy and pottery techniques demonstrated skilled craftsmanship.