An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.t3.10

v1.c9.s18.t3.10

*4.18.7 C. region*. C. India, as already defined [4.14.5], with its perennial rivers and rich soil cover, contributed to the emergence and thriving of several cultures not only in prehistoric times but also in the early historical period. Generally speaking, the early historical cultures are associated with the PGW [11.14], the NBPW [11.16], the Red Polished Ware [11.23] and the bright-red ware of the Gupta period. However it is difficult to isolate these ceramic cultures, as at several sites in c. India the cultural development was a continuous process at least in this period. Moreover the periodization as given in several summary reports conceives of very broad chronological spans which make it rather difficult to individualize cultures based on the associated ceramic industries. It may therefore be proper to define the period of these distinctive ceramics, note the regions of their occurrence and then give a general sequence of material culture of the region in the early historical period. But it is necessary to make it clear that the dating proposed for the various ceramic industries is not final in any sense of the term even after taking into consideration some of the ¹⁴C dates.