Q1. Which metal was first used by humans during the Chalcolithic period?
- Iron
- Bronze
- Copper
- Tin
Correct Option: 3. Copper
Explanation: The Chalcolithic period (literally “Copper-Stone Age”) marked the first known use of metal — copper — by early humans in India. Though stone tools were still in use, copper tools began to appear, enabling more effective agricultural and domestic work. Importantly, people had not yet discovered how to alloy copper with tin to create bronze, which defines the later Bronze Age. Hence, copper was the primary metal in use during this time.
Q2. What was the main reason for the decline of the Chalcolithic culture around 1200 BCE?
- Discovery of iron
- Invasion by Aryans
- Exhaustion of copper mines
- Decline in rainfall and epidemics
Correct Option: 4. Decline in rainfall and epidemics
Explanation: Archaeological and environmental evidence suggests that climatic deterioration, particularly a decline in rainfall, made agriculture unsustainable in many regions. Additionally, epidemics and diseases affected population centers. These combined factors led to the gradual decline and eventual abandonment of Chalcolithic settlements, especially around 1200 BCE. There is no strong evidence of external invasions or copper exhaustion causing the collapse.
Q3. Which type of pottery is associated with the Chalcolithic period in India?
- Painted Grey Ware (PGW)
- Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP)
- Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW)
- Red Polished Ware (RPW)
Correct Option: 2. Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP)
Explanation: The Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) culture is widely associated with Chalcolithic sites in North India. It is often linked with the use of copper tools and is sometimes seen as a continuation or regional adaptation of the Late Harappan culture. Another important pottery type from this period is Black and Red Ware (BRW), also showing Harappan influence. PGW and NBPW belong to the later Vedic and post-Vedic periods.
Q4. The use of perforated stone discs in the Chalcolithic period indicates which type of agriculture?
- Plantation farming
- Jhum (slash and burn) cultivation
- Mixed cropping
- Irrigated rice farming
Correct Option: 2. Jhum (slash and burn) cultivation
Explanation: Excavations from Chalcolithic sites reveal perforated stone discs, which were likely used in jhum cultivation, a form of shifting agriculture practiced on forested slopes. In this method, patches of land are cleared by burning, and crops are grown for a few years before moving to a new area. This evidence shows that early agricultural practices were diverse and often adapted to the local environment.
Q5. The largest number of copper tools and silver sheets from the Chalcolithic period were found at which site?
- Gungeria
- Navdatoli
- Brahmagiri
- Daimabad
Correct Option: 1. Gungeria
Explanation: The Gungeria site in present-day Madhya Pradesh yielded a significant hoard of 424 copper tools and weapons, along with 102 thin sheets of silver, during excavations. This indicates the importance of metal use and trade in Chalcolithic communities. These findings also support the idea of early metallurgy being practiced well before the Iron Age in certain regions.