[Solved] Chalcolithic Burials in Maharashtra | Orientation Facts

In the Chalcolithic period people of Maharashtra buried their dead under the floor of their houses in the following orientation:

[U.P.P.C.S. Prelims 1997]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Funerary customs provide deep insights into the spiritual beliefs and domestic life of prehistoric cultures.

Authentic Source Evidence

Excavations at sites like Nevasa, Daimabad, and Inamgaon (Jorwe culture) reveal that adults and children were buried in urns under the floor, aligned North-South.

Analytical Breakdown

North to South (A): The standard orientation for burials in the Chalcolithic Maharashtra region.

Harappan Comparison: Unlike the Jorwe culture, Harappans used separate cemeteries (e.g., Cemetery R-37) and typically used an East-West orientation.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What does burying the dead 'under the floor' suggest?"

It suggests a desire to keep deceased family members close to the living and a lack of formalized, separate burial grounds.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The rigid North-South orientation of Jorwe burials indicates a well-defined cultural or religious code that was maintained across several centuries."

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