TheJorwe culture was aChalcolithicarchaeological culture which existed in large areas of what is nowMaharashtra state in WesternIndia, and also reached north into theMalwa region ofMadhya Pradesh. It is named after thetype site ofJorwe. The early phase of the culture is dated toc. 1400-1000 BCE, while the late phase is dated toc. 1000-700 BCE.[1]
Over 200 settlements of the Jorwe culture have been found, ranging from several large and medium-sized farming villages, to many small villages, as well as temporary and seasonal camp-sites used by pastoralists. It likely reflects achiefdom level of social organization. The largest settlement wasDaimabad, which had a mud fortification during this period, as well as an elliptical temple with fire pits. Some settlements show evidence of planning in the layout of rectangular houses and streets or lanes. Most dwellings were small, single-room dwellings, but the chiefs lived in large houses with multiple rooms, and had granaries to store grain.[2][3]
The pottery is red and orange, and painted with geometric patterns in black. Agriculture was largely the same as the earlierMalwa culture, including wheat, barley, and legumes, but with the addition of new kinds ofmillet. The people traded withKarnataka for gold and ivory, and with coastal India (Gujarat andKonkan) for fish,conch shell, andhaematite. Their dead were typically buried with the feet cut off, inurns which were placed under house floors or courtyards. Most Jorwe culture sites were abandoned around 1000 BCE, possibly due to famine or drought, and the remaining sites show signs of increased poverty until their abandonment c. 700 BCE.[2][3]
Sites of the Jorwe culture includeJorwe,Daimabad,Inamgaon,Prakashe, Navdatoli (nearMaheshwar), Walki (inPune District).
The Jorwe culture was preceded by theMalwa culture and succeeded by theIron Agemegalithic culture of theDeccan, and theNorthern Black Polished Ware culture.
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