The Chalcolithic cultures of non-Harappan India:

(i) The important non-Harappan chalcolithic cultures existed mainly in western India and Deccan.

(ii) Some of the chalcolithic cultures were as follows – Banas culture (2600 BC–1900 BC) in south - east Rajasthan, with Ahar near Udaipur and Gilund as its key - sites; Kayatha culture (2100 BC—2000 BC) with Kayatha in Chambal as its chief site in Madhya Pradesh; Malwa culture (1700 BC—1400 BC) with Navdatoli in Western Madhya Pradesh as an important site, and Jorwe culture (1400 BC—700 BC) with Inamgaon and Chandoli near Pune in Maharashtra as its chief centres . The chalcolithic cultures also existed in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal.

(iii) The non-Harappan Chalcolithic cultures flourished in different regions but were marked by basic uniformity in various aspects such as their mud structures, farming and hunting activities, use of wheel made pottery etc. The pottery of these chalcolithic cultures included ochre coloured pottery (OCP), black-and-red ware (BRW) and has been found in the shape of various kinds of bowls, basins, spouted jars with concave necks, dishes on stand, etc.

(iv) Tools made of copper and stones were used by the people of chalcolithic cultures. They used chalcedony, chert etc., for making stone tools. The major tools used were long parallel-sided blades, pen knives, lunates, triangles, and trapezes. Some of the blade tools were used in agriculture. Main copper objects used include flat axes, arrowheads, spearheads, chisels, fishhooks, swords, blades, bangles, rings and beads.

(v) Beads made of carnelian, jasper, chalcedony, agate, shell, etc., frequently occur in excavations. In this context, the findings from the Daimabad hoard are noteworthy. The discovery includes bronze rhinoceros, elephant, two-wheeled chariot with a rider and a buffalo. These are massive and weigh over sixty kilograms. From Kayatha (Chambal valley) also copper objects with sharp cutting edges have been recovered. These reflect the skills of the craftsmen of the period.

(vi) Agriculture and cattle rearing were the means of subsistence of the chalcolithic people. They also practised hunting and fishing.

(vii) The main crops of the period included rice, barley, lentils, wheat, jowar, coarse grain, pea, green gram, etc.

(viii) The major parts of this culture flourished in the zone of black soil which was useful mainly for cotton growing.

(ix) Cattle, sheep, goat, dog, pig, horse, etc., were some of the domesticated animals. Black-buck, antelope, nilgai, barasinga, sambar, cheetah, wild buffalo and one-horned rhino were the wild animals presented in these cultures. The bones of fish, water bowl, turtle and rodents were also discovered.

(x) The chalcolithic cultures were characterised by rural settlements. Rectangular and circular houses were built. The walls were made of mud. Most of the houses were single rooms but some had two or three rooms.

(xi) The floors were made of burnt clay or clay mixed with river gravel.

(xii) More than 200 sites of Jorwe culture in Maharashtra have been found. The settlements of Jorwe culture in Inamgaon suggests that some kind of planning was adopted in laying of the settlement.