RAS question
The Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture in Rajasthan is associated with which period?
Correct answer: (B) Later Vedic period (1100-500 BCE).
In Rajasthan, the Painted Grey Ware culture is associated with the Later Vedic period, conventionally placed at about 1100-500 BCE.
Explanation
Painted Grey Ware, or PGW, is associated with the Later Vedic period because it is the archaeological pottery tradition used to read the material conditions of that phase. Indira Gandhi National Open University, eGyanKosh, BHIC-101 Block 3 places the Later Vedic phase at roughly 1000-600 BCE and says PGW finds reflect Later Vedic society; the Rajasthan chronology uses the closely aligned range 1100-500 BCE. For Rajasthan, Noh is an important PGW site, with northern Rajasthan included within the wider PGW distribution. Its diagnostic material is grey pottery painted with black geometric designs such as lines, circles, dots and criss-crosses. The culture is rural and iron-using, which fits its association with Later Vedic communities rather than earlier Harappan or later Mauryan contexts.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) The Early Vedic period is too early because PGW is associated with the Later Vedic phase.
- (C) The Harappan period is wrong because PGW is treated as a post-Harappan pottery culture, with PGW sherds contrasted against Harappan red ware.
- (D) The Mauryan period is wrong because the Mauryan context is linked with Northern Black Polished Ware, not Painted Grey Ware.
Concept
Rajasthan and north India's archaeological sequence maps pottery cultures to broad historical periods. Sites like Noh connect Rajasthan's regional archaeology with pan-Indian Vedic-period chronology.