The Chalcolithic Ahar Culture has been identified in which of the following river systems ?
- A.Sarayu and Ganga river systems
- B.Krishna and Tungabhadra river systems
- C.Banas and Berach river systems
- D.Brahmaputra and Meghna river systems
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, Banas and Berach river systems. The Ahar culture, also called the Banas culture, is a Chalcolithic (copper and stone age) culture of south-east Rajasthan, spread along the Banas river and its tributary the Berach, roughly between 3000 and 1500 BCE. Its type site, Ahar, lies on the outskirts of Udaipur; its ancient name Tambavati, "the place of copper", points to the copper ores of the Aravallis that its people smelted. Other important sites are Gilund and Balathal. The Ahar people lived in houses of stone and mud, grew crops, kept cattle and made a typical black-and-red ware painted with white lines. Option A is wrong because the Sarayu and Ganga plains are known for other cultures, such as the Painted Grey Ware and Northern Black Polished Ware. Option B is wrong because the Krishna and Tungabhadra valleys hold the Southern Neolithic and Chalcolithic sites of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Option D is wrong because the Brahmaputra and Meghna valleys of the north-east have no Ahar sites. Exam tip: Ahar (Tambavati) near Udaipur, with Gilund and Balathal, is the Banas culture of Rajasthan.
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