Vedic

expand_more Description

The Vedic Tradition is as much a historical reconstruction from analysis of contemporary literature—principally the Rigveda—as it is an archaeologically defined culture. The core area of the Rigveda is the Punjab in India and Pakistan, but the tradition extends from the Swat Valley through north-central India and south to Gujarat, from 3900-2500 BP. Following the fall of the state-level society of the preceding Mature Indus Tradition, the Vedic Tradition became a rural agricultural society of regional subtraditions, with no archaeological evidence of social stratification and few luxury goods. Trade became largely local, with goods produced by only part-time specialists. While copper metallurgy persisted, iron tools gradually became more prominent after 3000 BP. A two-tiered settlement hierarchy appeared toward the end of the tradition, signifying a chiefdom-level society.

Identifier

Region

• Asia

Subregion

• South Asia

Subsistence Type

• intensive agriculturalists

Countries

• India
• Pakistan