New light on the prehistoric cultures of Central India

Abstract The excavations at Kayatha (Madhya Pradesh, India) have revealed traces of earlier chalcolithic occupation in Central India than was previously known, beginning well before 2000 B.C. The oldest (Kayatha Culture) is represented by three new ceramic styles. Copper implements and bangles and two necklaces of semi‐precious stones were found. Over forty sites of this new culture have so far been discovered in the Chambal Valley. The second culture (Ahar Culture) was well known in south‐east Rajasthan, but its existence in Central India has been brought to light for the first time at Kayatha. An important feature of this culture is the terracotta bull figurines, both naturalistic and stylized, the latter being unique. The last chalcolithic culture at Kayatha is the well defined Malwa culture, with similar figurines occuring in a Malwa context for the first time.