Chalcolithic Age

Definition:
- Also known as Copper Age, Eneolithic, or Aeneolithic.
- Integrated into the Neolithic period.
- Marked by the use of metal and stone weapons, initially copper.

Duration: - 3000 BCE to 500 BCE.

Origins:
- Greek words "khalkos" (copper) and "lithos" (stone) combined.
- Emerged after the Neolithic Age.

Spread:
- In India, from approximately 2000 BC to 700 BC.
- Prevalent during the Pre-Harappan and Post-Harappan periods.
- Rural settlements near hills and rivers.

Key Cultures:
- Ahar-Banas Culture
- Kayatha Culture
- Malwa Culture
- Savalda Culture
- Prabhas & Rangpur Culture
- Jorwe Culture

Characteristics:
- Use of copper and stone.
- Black-and-red pottery prominent.
- Agricultural societies with domesticated animals.
- Metal tools and weapons made from copper and bronze.
- Pottery with various designs and motifs.
- Burial practices varied (north-south or east-west).

Significant Aspects:
- Ahara-Banas Culture: Black and scarlet pottery.
- Kayatha Culture: Red slipped ware with chocolate designs.
- Malwa Culture: Diamabad, Inamgaon, Kayatha, among significant sites.
- Jorwe Culture: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and other regions.

Art and Crafts:

- Red and orange wheel-made pottery.
- Linear motifs and designs painted in black.
- Skilled coppersmiths, ivory carvers, terracotta craftsmen.
- Ornaments made from precious stones.
- Paintings depicting daily life and trade.

Limitations:
- Limited use of domestic animals.
- Agricultural challenges in black cotton soil regions.
- Brief duration of the period.
- Limited understanding of metallurgy.