Excavation reveals Harappans did not define Copper Age

The archaeological belief that Harappans influenced the shaping of the Chalcolithic culture has been challenged by the findings of a recent excavation at Balathal, about 40 kilometres to the east of Udaipur, Rajasthan.

The Chalcolithic Age is characterised by the presence of early human communities engaged chiefly in farming. They are also believed to have introduced the use of copper. The period, therefore, is also referred to as the Copper Age.

The excavations were carried out by a team of archaeologists from the Deccan College in Pune in conjunction with their counterparts from the Rajasthan Vidyapeeth.

The excavations were conducted with the purpose of understanding the lifestyle of the early farming community in the Chalcolithic Age of which very little is known so far.

While it is widely believed that Harappans played an important role in the development of the early farming communities, the team of archaeologists have uncovered traces of the existence of such a community which existed during a period prior to 2400 BC that had evolved independently and without the support of Harappans.

In fact, it is the Harappans who appear to have borrowed some techniques from this early farming community after the two came into contact around 2400 BC, according to the findings of the excavation.

This particular early farming community was proficient in the craft of making reserved slipped variety of pottery - an art which was not known to any other Chalcolithic culture but of which only the Harappans were aware of, says Dr Vasant Shinde of the Deccan College.

This technique of pottery making involves the application of one colour to the earthen pots. After this has dried, another coat of a different colour is applied and, thereafter, designs are inscribed on the pottery by scraping away of the second coat, thereby allowing the designs in the first colour to surface out. Dr Shinde explained.

This early farming community was also adept at copper processing techniques and advanced methods of farming including cultivation of wheat, barley and oilseeds.

The community remained rural but showed a sudden spurt of prosperity after it came into contact with the Harappans around 2400 BC.

Excavations carried out by the archaeological team revealed the tremendous structural activities undertaken by these people which exhibited meticulous planning.

Traces of settlement uncovered during the course of the excavations showed houses of mud and mud-bricks, that were built on either side of the main street. In the central portion was found a fortified enclosure which was separated from other structures by a huge wall.

This, the archaeologists believe, was probably the residence of the chief.

It is, therefore, inferred that a definite social organisational structure existed among these early people who were governed in their day-to-day activities by a superior.

The archaeologists have further uncovered three inter-connected structural complexes that resemble a Harappan lover town and where the common man resided.

One of the complexes which has still not been fully exposed in the excavations shows 15 rooms - each having been utilised for a different purpose. Around five rooms were used for storing grains. Two rooms were used as kitchen. One was specified for carrying out craft activities like tools manufacturing while the rest were used for dwelling purposes.

The second complex too revealed dwelling activities besides indicating that this was a portion occupied particularly by craftsmen. This inference was reached due to the evidence of pottery-firing activities here that was highlighted by the discovery of a number of clay containers within a kiln.

Presence of another kiln at higher levels of excavation indicate that the craft of pottery making was hereditary in nature and was passed from one generation to the other.

The third complex is the poorest of the lot and it is felt that was the portion occupied by the less-privileged and the lowest in the social strata. This in turn has led the archaeologists to surmise that a definite caste pattern was prevalent even among these early people.

Earlier efforts at understanding Chalcolithic culture had been restricted to the period between 2200 to 1000 BC.

But the present excavations have, for the first time, thrown light upon the lifestyle of these early people during the period prior to 2200 BC.

UNI