A History of Agriculture in India v1.c25.s2.3

v1.c25.s2.3

The Gandhara Grave Culture, was brought to light by the excavations at Buthara II, Katslai I and Loebanr I Butkara, Barama, Timargarh and Balambat in Swat by Dani. It is characterized by: (a) three distinct types of burial practices (inflexed articulated inhumation, cremation in urns and fractional and multiple), corresponding to three periods of occupation I, II and III; (b) two classes of pottery (red ware and grey ware); (c) the use of copper-bronze during Periods I and II and of iron during Period III; and (d) the knowledge of horse-breeding. On the basis of a comparative study and ¹⁴C determinations, Period I is dated to sixteenth-thirteenth century B.C., Period II to twelfth-tenth century B.C. and Period III to ninth-sixth century B.C. The settlement pattern of this culture indicates the location of the habitation sites along the slopes extending to the river, permitting the use of river for terrace cultivation. Higher slopes would no doubt have been used for cattle-grazing.