Home Region:  Southern India (South Asia)

Deccan - Neolithic

2700 BCE 1200 BCE
D G SC WF RG 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
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Steel
Absent
Iron
Absent 2700 BCE 1501 BCE
Unknown 1500 BCE 1301 BCE
Present 1300 BCE 1200 BCE
Absent 1300 BCE 1200 BCE
Copper
Present
Bronze
Present
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions 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 Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 43 P Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Original Name Deccan - Neolithic Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Alternative Name Ashmound Tradition Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Alternative Name Southern Neolithic Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [2700 BCE ➜ 1200 BCE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Succeeding Entity Deccan - Iron Age Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Succeeding Entity
1200 BCE 300 BCE
Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)   [continuity]  Confident
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Language Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Dravidian Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Religion Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Hierarchical Complexity Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 1 Confident 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 Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Unknown Suspected 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Judge Unknown Suspected 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Unknown Suspected 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
Court Unknown Suspected 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Information / Writing System Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Confident 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 Confident 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 Confident 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 Confident 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 Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Moat Absent Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Earth Rampart Absent Confident 2700 BCE 1701 BCE
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Earth Rampart Unknown Suspected 1700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Ditch Absent Confident 2700 BCE 1701 BCE
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Ditch Unknown Suspected 1700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Complex Fortification Absent Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Military use of Metals Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Iron Absent Confident 2700 BCE 1501 BCE
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Iron Unknown Suspected 1500 BCE 1301 BCE
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Iron Present Confident Uncertain 1300 BCE 1200 BCE
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Iron Absent Confident Uncertain 1300 BCE 1200 BCE
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Copper Present Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Bronze Present Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Projectiles Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 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 Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Crossbow Absent Inferred 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Composite Bow Absent Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Handheld weapons Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Unknown Suspected 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Elephant Absent Confident 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 Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Armor Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
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 Confident 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 Confident 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 Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Confident 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 Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Unknown Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Unknown Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Unknown Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Unknown Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Unknown Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Unknown Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Unknown Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Unknown Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Unknown Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Unknown Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Unknown Confident 2700 BCE  1200 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions