Home Region:  Central India (South Asia)

Deccan - Iron Age

1200 BCE 300 BCE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  in_deccan_ia / InDecIA
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
2700 BCE 1200 BCE Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
205 BCE 101 BCE Post-Mauryan Kingdoms (in_post_mauryan_k)    [None]
300 BCE 300 CE Early Cholas (in_cholas_1)    [None]
300 BCE 300 CE Early Pandyas (in_pandya_emp_1)    [None]


  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.

General Variables
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
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
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)
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 - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia) was in:
 (1200 BCE 301 BCE)   Deccan
Home NGA: Deccan
General Variables
Identity and Location Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 43 P Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Original Name Deccan - Iron Age Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Alternative Name Megalithic Period Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Temporal Bounds Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [1200 BCE ➜ 300 BCE] Confident
Loading...
Political and Cultural Relations Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Succeeding Entity Mauryan Empire Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Succeeding Entity
205 BCE 101 BCE
Post-Mauryan Kingdoms (in_post_mauryan_k)   [None]  Confident
Loading...
Succeeding Entity
300 BCE 300 CE
Early Cholas (in_cholas_1)   [None]  Confident
Loading...
Succeeding Entity
300 BCE 300 CE
Early Pandyas (in_pandya_emp_1)   [None]  Confident
Loading...
Preceding Entity
2700 BCE 1200 BCE
Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)   [continuity]  Confident
Loading...
Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Language Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Religion Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [500 to 1,000] people Confident 1200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...
Population of the Largest Settlement [2,000 to 4,000] people Confident 999 BCE 600 BCE
Loading...
Population of the Largest Settlement [5,000 to 10,000] people Confident 599 BCE 300 BCE
Loading...
Polity Territory - Undecided 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Polity Population [500 to 1,000] people Confident 1200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...
Polity Population [5,000 to 15,000] people Confident 999 BCE 600 BCE
Loading...
Polity Population [20,000 to 25,000] people Confident 599 BCE 300 BCE
Loading...
Largest Communication Distance - Undecided 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Hierarchical Complexity Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 1 Confident 1200 BCE 1001 BCE
Loading...
Settlement Hierarchy [1 to 2] Confident 1000 BCE 601 BCE
Loading...
Settlement Hierarchy 2 Confident 600 BCE 301 BCE
Loading...
Religious Level 1 Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Military Level 1 Confident 1200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...
Military Level [1 to 2] Confident 999 BCE 600 BCE
Loading...
Military Level 2 Confident 599 BCE 300 BCE
Loading...
Administrative Level 1 Confident 1200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...
Administrative Level [1 to 2] Confident 999 BCE 600 BCE
Loading...
Administrative Level 2 Confident 599 BCE 300 BCE
Loading...
Professions Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Professional Priesthood Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Professional Military Officer Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Occupational Complexity Uncoded Undecided 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Bureaucracy Characteristics Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Full Time Bureaucrat Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Examination System Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Law Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Judge Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Court Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Irrigation System Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Food Storage Site Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Drinking Water Supply System Present Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Transport Infrastructure Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Uncoded Undecided 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Port Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Canal Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Bridge - Undecided 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Special-purpose Sites Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Information / Writing System Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Script Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Nonwritten Record Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Non Phonetic Writing Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Mnemonic Device Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Information / Kinds of Written Documents Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Sacred Text Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Religious Literature Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Practical Literature Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Philosophy Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Lists Tables and Classification Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
History Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Fiction Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Calendar Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Information / Money Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Uncoded Undecided 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Precious Metal Uncoded Undecided 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Paper Currency Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Indigenous Coin Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Foreign Coin Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Article Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Store Of Wealth Uncoded Undecided 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Information / Postal System Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
General Postal Service Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Courier Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Information / Measurement System Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Stone Walls Non Mortared Present Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Stone Walls Mortared Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Settlements in a Defensive Position Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Modern Fortification Absent Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Moat Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Earth Rampart Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Ditch Present Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Complex Fortification Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Military use of Metals Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Inferred 1199 BCE 551 BCE
Loading...
Steel Unknown Suspected 550 BCE 451 BCE
Loading...
Steel Present Confident 450 BCE 300 BCE
Loading...
Iron Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Copper Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Bronze Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Projectiles Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Sling Present Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Self Bow Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Javelin Present Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Crossbow Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Composite Bow Absent Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Atlatl Absent Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Handheld weapons Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Sword Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Spear Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Polearm Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Dagger Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Battle Axe Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Animals used in warfare Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Elephant Absent Confident 1200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...
Elephant Present Confident Uncertain 999 BCE 700 BCE
Loading...
Elephant Absent Confident Uncertain 999 BCE 700 BCE
Loading...
Elephant Present Confident 699 BCE 300 BCE
Loading...
Donkey Present Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Dog Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Camel Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Armor Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Present Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Shield Present Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Scaled Armor Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Plate Armor Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Limb Protection Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Leather Cloth Present Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Laminar Armor Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Helmet Present Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Chainmail Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Breastplate Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Naval technology Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Loading...
Human Sacrifice Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions