Inamgaon: A Chalcolithic Settlement

Inamgaon is an archaeological site located in Maharashtra. It is situated on the banks of the river Ghod, which is a tributary of the Bhima river. People lived at this site between 3600 and 2700 years ago (The Chalcolithic or Copper-Stone Age).

Archaeologists have found seeds of wheat, barley, lentils, peas, and sesame at the site, proving they were skilled farmers. They also found the bones of numerous animals (cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep, dog, and pig) with cut marks on them, which shows that animal meat was a regular part of their diet. They lived in rectangular mud houses.

The most fascinating discoveries at Inamgaon are the burial sites.

• Adults were generally buried vertically in the ground, with their heads pointing towards the North.
• Vessels that probably contained food and water were placed in the grave with the dead body.
• The Special Burial: In the courtyard of a massive five-roomed house (likely belonging to the village chief), archaeologists found a man buried inside a large, four-legged clay jar. This shows clear social differences and hierarchy in the village.