Archaeoceramic Traditions of India: Markers of Cultural Change and Continuity

This article explores the evolution and significance of pottery and terracotta figurines in India, from the Neolithic period to the rise of early historic civilizations. It traces the craft's development from the rudimentary, handmade wares of sites like Mehrgarh (c. 7000 BCE) to the sophisticated, wheel-thrown pottery of the Indus Valley Civilization. The paper then examines three key ceramic cultures: Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP), Painted Grey Ware (PGW), and Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW), highlighting their role as chronological markers for the transition from the Bronze to the Iron Age and the Second Urbanization. Additionally, the article discusses the use of thermoluminescence (TL) dating to establish absolute chronologies for these archaeological cultures. It concludes by analyzing the social, religious, and artistic insights provided by terracotta figurines across different eras, including the "Mother Goddess" figures of the Indus Valley and the living tradition of terracotta art on temples in West Bengal.