Home Region: Southern India (South Asia)

Deccan - Neolithic

2700 BCE 1200 BCE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 in_deccan_nl / InDecNL

Preceding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

1200 BCE 300 BCE Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia) [continuity]

General Description

The South Indian Neolithic lasted from about 3000 to 1200 BCE. Here we are particularly interested in the northern part of the modern-day Indian state of Karnataka, where Neolithic communities appear to have been small, egalitarian, and reliant on pastoralism (mostly cattle), agriculture (mostly millet and pulses), and hunting and gathering. The prevalence of cattle motifs in rock art, as well as the number of ashmounds (large mounds of burned cattle dung) dotting the landscape, point to the symbolic importance of cattle in South Indian Neolithic ideology as a whole. ^[1]
Population and political organization
The presence of only minor variations in house size, design and content, as well as in mortuary practices, suggests an egalitarian society during this period. ^[2] No population estimates are provided by the literature.

[1]: (Johansen 2014, 62-65) Johansen, Peter. 2014. “The Politics of Spatial Renovation: Reconfiguring Ritual Practices in Iron Age and Early Historic South India.” Journal of Social Archaeology 14 (1): 59-86. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/M4E9T7IR.

[2]: (Johansen 2014, 63) Johansen, Peter. 2014. “The Politics of Spatial Renovation: Reconfiguring Ritual Practices in Iron Age and Early Historic South India.” Journal of Social Archaeology 14 (1): 59-86. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/M4E9T7IR.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

2 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

1 Special Purpose House

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

1 Store Of Wealth

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

2 Wooden Palisade

2 Stone Walls Non Mortared

2 Stone Walls Mortared

2 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

2 Earth Rampart

2 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

4 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl) was in:
(2700 BCE 1201 BCE)	Deccan

Home NGA: Deccan

General Variables

Identity and Location Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	43 P	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Original Name	Deccan - Neolithic	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Alternative Name	Ashmound Tradition	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Alternative Name	Southern Neolithic	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[2700 BCE ➜ 1200 BCE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Succeeding Entity	Deccan - Iron Age	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Succeeding Entity 1200 BCE 300 BCE	Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia) [continuity]
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Language Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Dravidian	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Religion Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Hierarchical Complexity Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	1	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Religious Level	- Undecided	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Military Level	- Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Administrative Level	- Undecided	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Professions Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Professional Priesthood	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Examination System	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Law Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Judge	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Formal Legal Code	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Court	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Irrigation System	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Food Storage Site	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Special Purpose House	Uncoded Undecided	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Port	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Canal	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Bridge	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Information / Writing System Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Script	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Uncoded Undecided	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Mnemonic Device	Uncoded Undecided	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Sacred Text	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Religious Literature	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Practical Literature	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Philosophy	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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History	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Fiction	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Calendar	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Information / Money Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Precious Metal	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Paper Currency	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Article	Present Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Store Of Wealth	Uncoded Undecided	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Information / Postal System Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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General Postal Service	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Courier	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Absent	2700 BCE 1701 BCE
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Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	1700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent	2700 BCE 1701 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	1700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	2700 BCE 1701 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Unknown Suspected	1700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Absent	2700 BCE 1701 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Unknown Suspected	1700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Moat	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Absent	2700 BCE 1701 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Unknown Suspected	1700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Ditch	Absent	2700 BCE 1701 BCE
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Ditch	Unknown Suspected	1700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Military use of Metals Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Iron	Absent	2700 BCE 1501 BCE
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Iron	Unknown Suspected	1500 BCE 1301 BCE
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Iron	Absent Uncertain	1300 BCE 1200 BCE
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Iron	Present Uncertain	1300 BCE 1200 BCE
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Copper	Present	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Bronze	Present	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Projectiles Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Sling	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Self Bow	Present Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Javelin	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Crossbow	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Composite Bow	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Atlatl	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Handheld weapons Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Sword	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Spear	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Polearm	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Dagger	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Battle Axe	Present Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Elephant	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Donkey	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Dog	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Camel	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Armor Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Shield	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Absent Inferred	1500 BCE 1200 BCE
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Plate Armor	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Helmet	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Chainmail	Absent Inferred	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Naval technology Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Unknown	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Unknown	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Unknown	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Unknown	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Unknown	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Unknown	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Unknown	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Unknown	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Unknown	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Unknown	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Unknown	2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More