General Description
The South Indian Iron Age lasted, roughly, from 1200 to 300 BCE.
[1]
The vast majority of Iron Age megalithic structures and associated sites have been found in the modern-day Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
[2]
As in the preceding Neolithic period, South Indians sustained themselves through bovine and caprine pastoralism as well as the cultivation of millet and pulses - and, increasingly, wheat, barley, and rice. Settlement designs became more complex and labour-intensive, and new social arrangements and mortuary practices emerged.
[3]
Population and political organization
Differences in the scale, design and materials of mortuary megalithic structures and associated grave goods point to the growing hierarchization of South Indian societies at this time.
[3]
However, there was some variation in terms of the sociopolitical organization of individual communities: for example, it is likely that some chiefs with limited decision-making powers ruled over single settlements, and that more powerful leaders based in large centres exerted some control over surrounding settlements, and that some polities were made up of several settlements ruled by a hierarchy of leaders who answered to a single paramount chief. The first type of polity probably prevailed at the beginning of the Iron Age, while the second and third type likely became more common towards its end.
[4]
No population estimates for this period could be found in the specialist literature.
[1]: (Johansen 2014, 59) Peter G. Johansen. 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.
[2]: (Brubaker 2001-2002, 253) Robert Brubaker. 2001-2002. ’Aspects of Mortuary Variability in the South Indian Iron Age’. Bulletin of the Deccan College Post-Graduate & Research Institute 60-61: 253-302.
[3]: (Johansen 2014, 65) Peter G. Johansen. 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.
[4]: (Brubaker 2001-2002, 287-91) Robert Brubaker. 2001-2002. ’Aspects of Mortuary Variability in the South Indian Iron Age’. Bulletin of the Deccan College Post-Graduate & Research Institute 60-61: 253-302.
Mauryan Empire |
continuity |
quasi-polity |
[500 to 1,000] people | 1200 BCE 1000 BCE |
[2,000 to 4,000] people | 999 BCE 600 BCE |
[5,000 to 10,000] people | 599 BCE 300 BCE |
- |
[500 to 1,000] people | 1200 BCE 1000 BCE |
[5,000 to 15,000] people | 999 BCE 600 BCE |
[20,000 to 25,000] people | 599 BCE 300 BCE |
- |
1 | 1200 BCE 1001 BCE |
[1 to 2] | 1000 BCE 601 BCE |
2 | 600 BCE 301 BCE |
1 |
1 | 1200 BCE 1000 BCE |
[1 to 2] | 999 BCE 600 BCE |
2 | 599 BCE 300 BCE |
1 | 1200 BCE 1000 BCE |
[1 to 2] | 999 BCE 600 BCE |
2 | 599 BCE 300 BCE |
inferred Absent | 1199 BCE 551 BCE |
Unknown | 550 BCE 451 BCE |
Present | 450 BCE 300 BCE |
Present |
Present |
Present |
Present |
Absent | 1200 BCE 1000 BCE |
Present | 999 BCE 700 BCE |
Absent | 999 BCE 700 BCE |
Present | 699 BCE 300 BCE |
inferred Present |
Unknown |
Unknown |
inferred Present |
inferred Present |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Present |
Unknown |
inferred Present |
inferred Absent |
Unknown |
Year Range | Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia) was in: |
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(1200 BCE 301 BCE) | Deccan |
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Duration | [1200 BCE ➜ 300 BCE] | Confident | |||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Succeeding Entity | Mauryan Empire | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Relationship to Preceding Entity | continuity | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Succeeding Entity
205 BCE 101 BCE
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Post-Mauryan Kingdoms (in_post_mauryan_k) [None] | Confident | |||||||||
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Succeeding Entity
300 BCE 300 CE
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Early Cholas (in_cholas_1) [None] | Confident | |||||||||
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Succeeding Entity
300 BCE 300 CE
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Early Pandyas (in_pandya_emp_1) [None] | Confident | |||||||||
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Preceding Entity
2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl) [continuity] | Confident | |||||||||
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Degree of Centralization | quasi-polity | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Linguistic Family | NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Population of the Largest Settlement | [500 to 1,000] people | Confident | 1200 BCE 1000 BCE | ||||||||
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Population of the Largest Settlement | [2,000 to 4,000] people | Confident | 999 BCE 600 BCE | ||||||||
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Population of the Largest Settlement | [5,000 to 10,000] people | Confident | 599 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Polity Territory | - | Undecided | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Polity Population | [500 to 1,000] people | Confident | 1200 BCE 1000 BCE | ||||||||
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Polity Population | [5,000 to 15,000] people | Confident | 999 BCE 600 BCE | ||||||||
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Polity Population | [20,000 to 25,000] people | Confident | 599 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Largest Communication Distance | - | Undecided | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Settlement Hierarchy | 1 | Confident | 1200 BCE 1001 BCE | ||||||||
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Settlement Hierarchy | [1 to 2] | Confident | 1000 BCE 601 BCE | ||||||||
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Settlement Hierarchy | 2 | Confident | 600 BCE 301 BCE | ||||||||
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Religious Level | 1 | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Military Level | 1 | Confident | 1200 BCE 1000 BCE | ||||||||
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Military Level | [1 to 2] | Confident | 999 BCE 600 BCE | ||||||||
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Military Level | 2 | Confident | 599 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Administrative Level | 1 | Confident | 1200 BCE 1000 BCE | ||||||||
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Administrative Level | [1 to 2] | Confident | 999 BCE 600 BCE | ||||||||
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Administrative Level | 2 | Confident | 599 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Professional Soldier | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Professional Priesthood | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Professional Military Officer | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Occupational Complexity | Uncoded | Undecided | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Specialized Government Building | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Merit Promotion | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Full Time Bureaucrat | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Examination System | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mines or Quarry | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Written Record | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Script | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Nonwritten Record | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Non Phonetic Writing | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Mnemonic Device | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scientific Literature | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Sacred Text | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Religious Literature | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Practical Literature | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Philosophy | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Lists Tables and Classification | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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History | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Fiction | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Calendar | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Token | Uncoded | Undecided | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Precious Metal | Uncoded | Undecided | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Paper Currency | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Indigenous Coin | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Foreign Coin | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Article | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Store Of Wealth | Uncoded | Undecided | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Postal Station | Absent | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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General Postal Service | Absent | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Courier | Absent | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wooden Palisade | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Stone Walls Non Mortared | Present | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Stone Walls Mortared | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Settlements in a Defensive Position | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Modern Fortification | Absent | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Moat | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Fortified Camp | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Earth Rampart | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Ditch | Present | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Complex Fortification | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Steel | Absent | Inferred | 1199 BCE 551 BCE | ||||||||
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Steel | Unknown | Suspected | 550 BCE 451 BCE | ||||||||
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Steel | Present | Confident | 450 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Iron | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Copper | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Bronze | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tension Siege Engine | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Sling Siege Engine | Absent | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Sling | Present | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Self Bow | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Javelin | Present | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Handheld Firearm | Absent | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery | Absent | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Crossbow | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Composite Bow | Absent | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Atlatl | Absent | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
War Club | Present | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Sword | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Spear | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Polearm | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Dagger | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Battle Axe | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Horse | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Elephant | Absent | Confident | 1200 BCE 1000 BCE | ||||||||
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Elephant | Present | Confident Uncertain | 999 BCE 700 BCE | ||||||||
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Elephant | Absent | Confident Uncertain | 999 BCE 700 BCE | ||||||||
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Elephant | Present | Confident | 699 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Donkey | Present | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Dog | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Camel | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Wood Bark Etc | Present | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Shield | Present | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Scaled Armor | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Plate Armor | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Limb Protection | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Leather Cloth | Present | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Laminar Armor | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Helmet | Present | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Chainmail | Absent | Inferred | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Breastplate | Unknown | Suspected | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad | Unknown | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary | Unknown | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic | Unknown | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life | Unknown | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward | Unknown | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners | Unknown | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted | Unknown | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife | Unknown | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites | Unknown | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers | Unknown | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain | Unknown | Confident | 1200 BCE 300 BCE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
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