c. 10,000 | PALEOLITHIC AGE ends. The hunting / gathering stage, in India from 500,000. MESOLITHIC AGE begins until 6000. Climate warms up. Glaciers turn to rivers, resulting in increased vegetation. Hunting / gathering continues, but shifts from big to small game, fishing, and fowling. Small stone tools increase, and bone tools are added. Burials and pottery begin. Mesolithic sites include Bagor in Rajasthan, Langhnaj in Gujarat, and Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh. | 12,000 Copilot, inrv 10,000 scrb, wikMsl, 9000 Copilot, byju |
It's not like one age stops and the next one starts. All ages, periods, and phases overlap, because they start and end at different times in different locations.
c. 10,000 | ![]() |
map: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin 10,000 wikIMR |
c. 10,000 | Except for high mountains, India becomes covered by woodland. The modern barren landscape is man-made, due to millennia of woodland clearance. | 10,000 mxfld |
c. 10,000 | ![]() |
photo: Bernard Gagnon 10,000 wikBRS |
c.9000 | Semi-permanent settlements appear at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh. | 9000 wikTIH |
c.9000 | ![]() |
photo: Vaishali Bhadauriya by 8000 Copilot no date: wikAdH |
c.9000 | Mesolithic LANGHNAJ village founded in Gujarat. Wild animal bones are left here, including a canid (probably wolf), mongoose, rhinoceros, boar, chital, hog deer, swamp deer, nilgai and blackbuck. There is no information about it being abandoned. | 10-8000 wikLgh |
by 9000 | JUJUBE trees are domesticated in India. | by 9000 wikHAg, wikJjb |
c.8500 | Wild AUROCHS are domesticated into CATTLE V in Anatolia and India. | 8500 Copilot, wikHAg, ttco, wikCtl 8000 ISBE 4-689, coca |
c.8000 | Cave paintings and tools are left in MANGAR BANI hill forest. These paintings are believed to be the largest in India. | 8000 wikCPI |
c.7700 | Pre-HARAPPAN phase of Indus Valley civilization begins until 5500. An early food producing era. | 7700 wikIVC |
c.7600 | Neolithic levels are occupied at BHIRRANA in Haryana until 1500. | 7600 wikNlt, wikSASA, 7570 wikAI |
c.7570 | LAPIS LAZULI V artifacts appear at Bhirrana, which is the oldest site of Indus Valley. | 7600 wikLL |
c.7500 | ![]() |
photo: Ashish Premier 7500 wikTop, pre-7000 wikMrg, 7000 wikIVC, wikMrg |
c.7100 | Neolithic site JHUSI (aka Prathisthanpuram) founded near the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. | 7100 wikNlt 7106-7080 wikJs |
c.7000 | LAHURADEWA, occupied from 9000, founded in Sant Kabir Nagar District, in Sarayupar India.Shows earliest evidence of rice cultivation and ceramics in South Asia. | 7000 wikLrd, wikNlt |
c.7000 | 1st confirmed semi-permanent settlements appear in Rock Shelters of Λ Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh. | 7000 wikI |
c.7000 | NEOLITHIC AGE begins in IVC until 2500. | 7000 wikIVC |
c.7000 | NEOLITHIC AGE begins in most of India until 1000. EARLY NEOLITHIC begins until 5500. humans cultivate plants, breed animals for food and form permanent settlements. Stone tools are shaped by grinding, dependence on domesticated plants & animals, and appearance of weaving, but no pottery. |
7000 Copilot, wikSASA |
c.7000 | Wheat and barley cultivated, cattle, primarily sheep and goats - domesticated in Mehrgarh culture. Λ CATTLE herding in south Asia originates at Mehrgarh. | 8-6000 wikHAg |
c.6500 | NEOLITHIC AGE begins in SOUTH India until 1400. Noted for ash mounds. | 6500 wikNlt, |
c.6000 | MESOLITHIC AGE in most of India from 10,000 ends. Neolithic overlaps 7-1000. | 6000 Copilot, byju 2000 copilot |
c.6000 | AGRICULTURE, in Balochistan from 6500, begins in India south of Ganges valley. | 6000 inrv 4500 PW 13 |
c.5500 | EARLY NEOLITHIC AGE in most of India from 7000, ends. MIDDLE NEOLITHIC begins until 4500. Pottery appears. |
5500 Copilot, wikSASA |
c.5500 | Pre-HARAPPAN phase of Indus Valley Civilization from 7700, an early food producing era, fades into EARLY HARAPPAN phase until 2800. | 5500 wikIVC |
c.5500 | MEHRGARH Period 1 from 7500 ends. Period 2 begins until 4800. Manufacturing is evidenced, including flint knapping, stone and copper drills, updraft kilns, large pit kilns, and copper melting crucibles. Glazed faience beads, terracotta figurines become more detailed. Female figurines are decorated and have diverse hairstyles and ornaments. Button seals made of terracotta and bone have geometric designs. | 5500 wikMrg |
c.5000 | DRAVIDIANS, in south AsiaAsia from 10,000, migrate into northwest India until 2000. | 5000 guess |
c.5000 | Mesolithic BAGOR village in Rajasthan on the river Kothari founded. First of 3 phases begins until 2000. | 5000 wikBgr |
c.5000 | Neolithic EDAKKAL culture in India begins until 3000. | 5000 wikAI, |
c.5000 | Neolithic agriculture cultures appear in the Indus Valley. | 5000 wikI |
c.5000 | RICE V, cultivated in north India from the early Holocene, evidenced in the middle Ganges. See China 6200, Africa 1000 | 5000 wikHRC 4500 PW 13 |
c.5000 | MEGALITHS begin in south India until ???. | 5000 wikAI |
c.4800 | MEHRGARH Period 2 from 5500 ends. Period 3 begins until 3500. Includes the Togau phase. | 4800 wikMrg |
c.4600 | SOTHI founded in the plain of the Ghaggar and Chautang rivers NE of Kalibangan. SISWAL, is founded in Haryana, is 70km east. SOTHI-SISWAL culture (aka Kalibangan-I) begins. Ceramics feature painted pipal leaves, or fish scale designs. External ribbing and external cord impressions are typical, as are ceramic toy cart wheels and the short-stemmed dish on a stand. | 4600 wikSt, |
c.4500 | MIDDLE NEOLITHIC AGE in India from 5500, ends. LATE NEOLITHIC begins until 3500. | 4500 Copilot |
by 4500 | IRRIGATION, in Persia from 6000 develops in the Indus Valley Civilization. | by 4500 wikHAg |
c.4500 | Pottery has corded decoration south of Ganges valley. | 4500 PW 13 |
c.4000 | Wheat, barley, peas, sesame, dates, mangos, banannas, lemons limes, oranges, grapes grown in irrigated fields in Indus valley. | 4000 TTPC, bk |
c.4000 | CHANHU DARO, founded. A group of 3 low mounds, center for manufacturing carnelian beads. Has workshops or industrial quarters and possibly warehouses. Artifacts include shell ornaments, ladles, copper knives, spears, razors, tools, axes, vessels, dishes, terracotta models of carts and birds.  Cotton cloth traces are preserved on silver or bronze objects. Inhabited until 1700. | 4000 wikCnhd |
c.4000 | Amri Culture site KUNAL in Haryana founded. | 5-4000 wikAmr, wikAmS, wikKD, wikRD, |
c.4000 | An early form of Indus signs, called Indus Script appears. | 4000 wikTIH |
c.4000 | Stored grains in Indus valley attract insects and rodents. | 4000 TTPC |
c.4000 | First evidence of lost-wax copper casting comes from an amulet at Mehrgarh. | 4000 wikCpr |
c.4000 | Mehrgarh-3 site TOGAU, a large mound in the Chhappar Valley of Sarawan, is occupied until 3500. Pottery is decorated with geometric designs and is already wheel-made. | 4000 wikMrg |
c.4000 | Donkeys, horses, buffalo, camels, cattle bred in Indus Valley. | 4000 TTPC, bk |
c.3950 | Chalcolithic ANARTA tradition in India begins until 1900. | 3950 wikAI, |
c.3800 | GANESHWAR founded in Rajasthan. Lasts until ??. Period 1 begins until 2800. Hunter-gatherer communities use chert tools. | 3800 wikGns, |
c.3600 | Amri Culture site AMRI founded in Sindh south of Mohenjo Daro. | 3600 wikAmr, wikAmS, wikRD |
c.3500 | LATE NEOLITHIC AGE in India from 4500, ends. But NEOLITHIC drags on in some parts until 1000. |
3500 Copilot, 3300 wikSASA |
c.3500 | Amri Culture site KALIBANGAN founded in northwest Rajasthan on Ghaggar River. Phase 1 begins until 2500. | 3500 wikAmr, wikAmS, wikRD |
c.3500 | Pre-Harappan DHOLAVIRA founded in Gujarat west India. Has 7 stages of occupation: 2650-2550, 2550-2500, 25-2200, 22-2000, 2000-1900, 1900-1850, 1850-1750, 1750-1650. | 3500 wikDlv, |
c.3500 | ![]() |
photo: ALFGRN 3500 wikIS, wikTop |
c.3500 | MEHRGARH Period 3, including Togau, from 4800 ends. Periods 4 & 5 begin until 3000. | 3500 wikMrg |
c.3500 | DAMB SADAT is settled. It is in Quetta Valley west of the Indus, a rich agricultural environment, and home to several earlier Neolithic cultures in Pakistan. DAMB SADAT Culture begins until ??. Phase 1 begins until 2600. Settlements remain small but grow in number. | 3500 wikDS |
c.3300 | Bronze Age HELMAND Culture begins in Kandahar, Helmand and Sistan until 2350. People live partly in cities with temples and palaces, with a complex and advanced social structure. Pottery is colorfully painted with mainly geometric patterns; plants and animals are also depicted. Bronze is used. Divided into 4 periods: 3200-2800, 2800-2600, 2600-2450, 2450-2350. | 3300 wikHlm |
c.3300 | BRONZE AGE in India begins in the early Indus Valley Civilization. Also in the rest of India until 1300. | 3300 wikBA, wikI, 3000 wikAI, |
c.3300 | Amri Culture site REHMAN DHERI founded on the Gomal River Plain. It is enclosed by a massive wall, of dressed blocks made from clay slabs. Divided into 3 phases: 3300-2850, 2850-2500, 2500-1900. Lasts until 1900. | 3300, wikAmr, wikAmS, wikRD |
c.3300 | Amri Culture site KOT DIJI founded in Sindh on the east bank of the Indus opposite Mohenjo-daro. Pottery has red slip and black painted designs. Kot Diji becomes a phase 2800. | 3300 wikAmr, wikAmS,
wikKD,
wikRD 2800 wikIVC |
c.3300 | Hakra Phase of the Indus Valley civilisation begins. | 3300 wikTop |
c.3300 | Early Harappan RAVI Phase, named after the Ravi River, begins until 2800. | 3500 encIVC, 3300 wikIVC |
c.3200 | India trades Λ LAPIS LAZULI to Mesopotamia and Egypt. | 3200 wikIMR |
c.3195 | METEORS bombard Earth, resulting atmospheric dust-veil as evidenced as cold period in narrow tree rings, and other world events. | 3195 kpol 3123 CWH |
![]() Harappan sites 3200-2800 map: Merikanto |
c.3000 | HARAPPAN Period of Indus Valley Civilization begins in Pakistan until 1500. EARLY HARAPPAN Period begins until 2600. |
3200 wikIVC, 3000 HCIP 1-172, wikPnj |
Sources conflate and confuse Indus Valley Civilization and Harappan Civilization or Period.
c.3000 | MEHRGARH Periods 4 & 5 from 3500 end. Period 6 begins until 2600. | 3000 wikMrg |
c.3000 | AMRI, pre-Harrapan site on lower Indus occupied until 2300. | 3000 B76 9-337, HCIP 1-196 |
c.3000 | Neolithic EDAKKAL culture in India from 5000 ends. | 3000 wikAI |
c.3000 | Brick houses built in Indus valley. | 3000 bk |
c.3000 | COTTON V woven in Indus valley. Levant 5200, Egypt 2500. | 3000 B76 7-273, Copilot, TTPC, bk |
c.3000 | Agricultural communities begin in the lower Ganges Valley and remain there until 1800. | 3000 wikI |
c.3000 | Chalcolithic AHAR BANAS culture in India begins until 1500. | 3000 wikAI, |
c.3000 | Neolithic TAMIL NADU culture in India begins until 2800. | 3000 wikNlt |
c.3000 | MESOLITHIC AGE in south India from ??, ends. | 3000 wikSASA |
c.3000 | ![]() |
photo: Binuka poojan 3000 wikSgr, |
c.2950 | ![]() Indus Valley Civilization Early Phase 3300-2600 BCE |
map: Avantiputra7 33-2600 wikIVC |
c.2850 | Amri Culture site REHMAN DHERI phase 1 from 3300 ends. Phase 2 begins until 2500. | 2850 wikAmr, wikRD |
c.2800 | GANESHWAR in Rajasthan: Period 1 from 3800 ends. Period 2 begins until 2000. Shows beginnings of metal work in copper and fired clay pottery. | 2800 wikGns |
c.2800 | Early Harappan RAVI Phase of Indus Valley Civilization from 3300 ends. KOT DIJI Phase begins until 2600. | 2800 encIVC, encIVC, wikIVC |
c.2800 | EARLY HARAPPAN phase of Indus Valley Civilization from 5500, ends. | 2800 wikIVC |
c.2800 | The Indus Valley Civilization expands across Pakistan, much of north India, and parts of Afghanistan, with Harappa and Mohenjo-daro becoming large metropolises. | 2800 wikTIH |
c.2800 | MOHENJO DARO bottom level occupied. | 2800 HCIP 1-195 |
c.2750 | Indus Valley Civilization, in India from 3000, expands into west Pakistan until 1750. Sites at Mohenjo Daro and Harappa. Has defensive walls of baked brick, irrigation & drainage systems, planned streets, multi-story houses, centralized administration, advanced weights & measures. Trades with Sumeria. | 29-2600 MCAW 2750 TAWH 16, wikIVC 2600 encIVC 2350 MCAW 2300 B76 9-334 |
by 2700 | PLUMBING: Standardized earthen plumbing pipes with broad flanges making use of asphalt for preventing leaks appear in the Indus Valley Civilization. | by 2700 Copilot |
by 2600 | Early Harappan communities become large urban centers, including Harappa, Ganeriwala, Mohenjo-daro in Pakistan, and Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi, Rupar, and Lothal in India. | by 2600 wikIVC |
c.2600 | Early Harappan KOT DIJI Phase of Indus Valley civilization from 2800 ends. Leaf shaped arrowheads, querns, soapstone (steatite), beads, shell bangles, one terracotta bull. | 2600 B76 9-337, encIVC, wikIVC, wikKD |
c.2600 | DAMB SADAT Culture, Phase 1 in Pakistan from 3500 ends.Phase 2 begins until ?. Multi-room houses are built of mudbrick with limestone foundations. | 2600 wikDS |
c.2600 | Severe EARTHQUAKE at Dholavira in Gujarat west India. | 2600 wikDlv |
c.2600 | ![]() Over 1,000 settlements show centralized authority, large urban centers, urban planning, sanitation systems, efficient city governments. Architecture includes dockyards, granaries, warehouses, brick platforms and protective walls. No conclusive evidence of palaces, temples, kings, armies, or priests. |
Mature Hrp. Avantiputra7 2600 bk, encIVC, wikI, wikIVC KIH 23 |
Sources conflate and confuse Indus Valley Civilization and Harappan Culture, Civilization or Period.
c.2600 | MEHRGARH Period 6 from 3000 ends. Period 7 begins until 2000. Mehrgarh is largely abandoned in favor of the larger and fortified town of Nausharo. | 2600 wikMrg 2500, wikIVC |
c.2600 | Indus Script , used 3500-1900, is now fully developed and used thruout the Indus Valley. | 2600 encIVC |
c.2500 | KASHMIR comes under Harappa until 1750. | 2500 rcCAE |
c.2500 | PUNJAB urban civilization begins until 1500. | 2500 B76 15-287 |
c.2500 | GANWERIWALA founded. 5th largest city in IVC, Has mudbrick walls, sewerage systems, counting systems, well-developed communication, art, and extensive trade. Becomes a major center until 1900. Grows grains, garden vegetables, and practices cattle husbandry. Artifacts include beads, pottery, unicorn figurines, a copper seal, blades and clay tablets. Inscriptions in Harrappan language remain undeciphered. | 2500 wikGnw |
c.2500 | MOHENJO-DARO latest level founded. Prospers until 1900, lasts until 1700. | 2750 HCIP 1-195 2500 wikMD |
c.2500 | Amri Culture site REHMAN DHERI phase 2 from 2850 ends. Phase 3 begins until 1900. | 2500 wikAmr, wikRD 2450 wikAmS |
c.2500 | Pre-Harappan GANESHWAR JODHPURA Culture begins in Rajasthan until 2000. Excavation of over 80 sites reveal copper objects including arrowheads, spearheads, fish hooks, bangles, chisels, and other stone tools. | 2500 wikGns |
c.2500 | NEOLITHIC AGE in IVC from 7000 ends, but continues in some parts of India until 1000. | 2500 wikIVC |
c.2500 | MESOLITHIC AGE in SOUTH India from ??? ends. NEOLITHIC AGE begins in SOUTH India until 1000. |
2500 wikSI |
c.2500 | Amri Culture site KALIBANGAN in northwest Rajasthan from 3500, phase-I ends. . | 2500 wikAmr, wikAmS |
c.2500 | Pre-Harappan site, BANAWALI founded on the left banks of dried up Sarasvati River, 120km NE of Kalibangan. Occupied until 1450. Period 1 (Kalibangan phase) begins until 2300. Well-planned houses of kiln burnt and molded bricks. Pottery: vases and jars, divided into 2 groups, based on design. | 2500 wikBnw, |
c.2500 | MOHENJO-DARO has woven cloth. | 2500 PW 14 |
2500 | Animal-drawn PLOW is evidenced in the Indus Valley Civilisation at Kalibangan. | 2600 PW 14 2500 wikHAg |
c.2500 | ELEPHANTS used in Indus Valley for work. | 2500 B76 5-971 |
by 2450 | KALLIBANGAN pre-Harappan settlement established. Non-rectangular mud brick houses within a broad brick surrounding wall. | by 2450 B76 9-337 |
by 2400 | A local SCRIPT exists in the Indus Valley, but it has not been deciphered. No one knows the language family to which it belongs, though there are thousands of short examples on stone seals, metal objects and pottery. | by 2400 mxfld |
2400 | RICE, evidenced in the Ganges plain from 5000, cultivated in the Indus Valley. | 2430 Copilot |
c.2350 | Bronze Age HELMAND Culture in Kandahar (city), Helmand (province) and Sistan (region) from 3300 ends. | 2350 wikHlm |
c.2350 | Harappan civilization trades with Sumeria via the Persian Gulf, develops a yet undeciphered writing method similar to late Minoan, used only for accounting and tax gathering. | 2350 MCAW |
c.2300 | Urban phase begins in Indus valley. | 2300 bk |
c.2300 | BANAWALI on the left bank of dried up Sarasvati River, Period 1 (Kalibangan phase) from 2500 ends. Period 2 (Mature Harappan) begins until 1700. Defense wall 105m long, 4.5m high, 6m wide. Well planned Harappan style chess-board pattern fortified town, 200m by 500m, consisting of 2 adjacent areas, one for ruling class and other for common people. Roads cut at right angles. Houses, on both sides of lanes, with rammed earth floor, mud plastered walls, rooms, kitchen, toilet. | 2300 wikBnw, |
c.2300 | MOHENJO-DARO now has a citadel on the west side, grid streets, bath houses, sawn brick, gypsum mortar. | 2300 B76 9-340 |
c.2300 | AMRI, pre-Harrapan site on lower Indus from 3000 ends. | 2300 B76 9-337 |
c.2300 | INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION, independent from 2700,comes under HARAPPAN CULTURE until 1750. | 2300 CWH, PW 14 1900 wiki 1750 B76 9-344, TTT 1700 vrb 1550 TAWH 16 1500 HCIP 1-156 1200 PAE 108 |
Sources conflate and confuse Indus Valley Civilization and Harappan Culture, Civilization or Period.
c. 2250 | ![]() Indus Valley Civilization, Mature Phase 2600-1900 BCE |
map: Avantiputra7 2600-1900 wikIVC |
c. 2150 | ![]() |
front: Alfred Nawrath back: Ernest Mackay 2400-1900 wikIVC, 2300-1750 wikDG, |
c.2100 | KAYATHA Culture begins in Madhya Pradesh until 1800. | 2100 wikMP |
c.2100 | SURKOTADA in Gujarat occupied intil 1700. Phase 1A begins until 1950. Contains a citadel with mud-brick and mud-lump fortification over a raised platform of hard rammed yellow earth. The platform averages 1.5m high, and the base width of the wall is 7m by 4.5m high. A residential area has a fortification wall 3.5m thick. Horse bones will be found at all levels. | 2100 wikSrk |
India 2000-1001
V