An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.t2.1

v1.c9.s18.t2.1

While Chota Nagpur had a flourishing Neolithic culture [4.6.5], though no Neolithic habitation site has been located, there is no trace of a well-defined Chalcolithic culture here, which is intriguing, as to its w. the culture is represented at such sites as CHIRAND and SONPUR [4.14.3] and its e. flank is studded with Chalcolithic sites [4.14.4]. Bar celts of copper closely copying Neolithic celts, unfinished shouldered celts, axe-heads and other objects have no doubt been occasionally and isolatedly found at various places. In the copper belt of Singhbhum there are traces of copper workings where more than one copper vein had been anciently tapped. Old circular ventilation shafts about 1 m in diameter are found along with considerable dump and slag, the evidence of mining continuing e. to Rakha hills (Murray, 1940). An important Chalcolithic element—microliths represented by blades, burins, crescents, triangles of triangular, trapezoid or rhomboid sections—is noticed at various places. Thus, with the principal elements of the Chalcolithic culture present, it is surprising that no regular settlement of the culture has been identified.