Technology And Material Life Of Central India (From Chalcolithic Period To Mauryan Period)

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The present work embodies the results of sustained research carried out on a topic 'Material Life of the People of Madhya Pradesh from the Chalcolithic to the Mauryan Age' (circa 2200 B.C. 3rd century B.C.). The reconstruction of the picture of material life on the basis of excavated materials is, by no means an easy task. The author, however, by virtue of his long practical experience in the field of archaeology has been very successful in his mission. He has skillfully categorised the material relics of diverse nature according to their functions and uses in order to present a vivid picture of settlement pattern, economic and social life, art, religions, customs and beliefs, etc., of the people living in Madhya Pradesh in between circa 2200 B.C. and the 3rd century B.C. The careful analysis of the artifacts provides ample insight into the gradual development in the mental make-up and the technological know-how of the people, which helped in exploiting the natural environment to make their life happier. The chronological tables, self explanatory line drawings and photo graphs of the artifacts help in better understanding the subject.

The approach to the subject is entirely new. It will serve as a model for future researchers in the field of Indian archacology.

Dr R.A. Sharma was born in village Paricha on 3 October 1953, in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh. He obtained his Masters Degree from the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior in 1977. In 1978, he got a post-graduate Diploma in Muse ology from the Centre of Advanced Studies in Indology and Museology, Prachya Niketan, Birla Museum, Bhopal. In 1979 he was awarded a post graduate Diploma in Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi. He was conferred a Ph.D. degree from Jiwaji University, Gwalior in 1990, where he is working as a lecturer since 1983. Before joining Jiwaji University he worked in the National Museum, New Delhi as a Curatorial Associate from 1981 to 1983. He has to his credit a number of research pa person various aspects of art, architecture and archaeology which have been widely acclaimed by scholars.

As a scholar he has carved out his place in the field of Indology. He was recently invited by the International Association of Historians to present a paper on 'Agricultural remains from Madhya Pradesh from Chalcolithic to Maurya period' at the University of Hong Kong.

The region of Madhya Pradesh due to its location, physical environment and natural resources has been fortunate enough in preserving its rich and varied cultural wealth in a much better form than those of the other areas of the country. So far as archaeological remains are concerned, the whole of Madhya Pradesh is considered as a virgin land.

The present study is based primarily on archaeological data to represent the different aspects of material life of the people of Madhya Pradesh from the Chalcolithic to the Mauryan period (i.e., circa 2200 B.C. to the third century B.C.) as is evident from the excavated material from all the protohistoric and early historic sites. The various sites include Kayatha, Maheswar, Navdatoli, Eran, Nagda, Awra, Manoti, Bilawali, Azadnagar, Mandsor, Runija, Besnagar, Piplya-Lorka, Atudkhas, Tripuri, Kakrahta, Malhar, Tumain, Gilaulikhera, Jaderua and Sooron, etc. All these above mentioned sites also yielded later cultures which are, however, not included in the proposed study; only the technology and material life of the people of Madhya Pradesh ranging from the Chalcolithic to the Mauryan period are incorporated here under the present plan of work.

To work on this problem, archaeological explorations were conducted by the author in various parts of Madhya Pradesh along with the study of the excavated material displayed or stored in the Central and the State Museums, University Museums and the departments. Apart from the above, the concerned published reports, research journals, magazines and proceedings, etc., have also been taken into account and used wherever necessary.

Prior to this humble attempt a number of scholars have worked on such problems but the study of the material culture of Madhya Pradesh has scantly been worked out. The excavated sites brought to light material relics of diverse nature ranging in the periods from the copper age to the modern age establishing the chronological cultural sequence stratigraphically. Some of these excavations have already been reported in various Indian Archaeological Reviews. Brief reports have also appeared in Archaeological journals and magazines. These reports give us vital clues about the material relics discovered so far in this region. The sketchy information though does not help in getting a coherent picture of the way of life in different periods but these material relics are, in fact, the positive manifestations of the skill and technology adopted in their fabrication by the people living in the different stages of history.