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44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000

Prehistoric Tool Technology

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which one of the following periods is also known as the Chalcolithic Age?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept The technological progression of humanity is classified by the materials used for tools. The Chalcolithic marks the first use of metal.

Explanation 'Chalcolithic' is derived from the Greek words 'khalkos' (copper) and 'lithos' (stone). In India, this period followed the Neolithic and saw the use of both stone and copper implements.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: The Copper Age (C) is the direct English equivalent of Chalcolithic.
Logic 2: It represents a transitional phase before the full-fledged Bronze Age (Indus Valley) and the later Iron Age.

Active Recall

Question

Why is the Chalcolithic period not called the 'Bronze Age'?

Answer

Because while they used copper, they had not yet mastered the widespread alloying of copper with tin to create bronze, which was a hallmark of the later Harappan civilization.

Core Insight

The Chalcolithic Age highlights the first human experiments with fire-based chemistry to extract metal from ore, laying the foundation for all future metallurgy.

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