Ancient Indian Pottery
Types and Time Periods – For Competitive Exams
| Type of Pottery | Time Period (Approx.) | Key Features | Associated Culture/Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neolithic Pottery | 7000–2000 BCE | Handmade, thick walls, coarse design | Mehrgarh, Chirand, Burzahom |
| Harappan Pottery | 2600–1900 BCE | Red ware with black geometric or animal designs, wheel-made | Indus Valley Civilization |
| Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) | 2000–1200 BCE | Dull ochre/red color, mostly plain | Ganga-Yamuna Doab |
| Black and Red Ware (BRW) | 1300–700 BCE | Black top and red bottom, early Iron Age | Eastern India, Central India |
| Painted Grey Ware (PGW) | 1200–600 BCE | Grey pottery with painted designs | Western U.P, Haryana |
| Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) | 700–200 BCE | Shiny, black surface, luxury pottery | Magadha, Vaishali |
| Terracotta | Harappan to Medieval | Clay-made toys, figurines | Throughout India |
MCQ Practice Questions
Q1. Which type of pottery is associated with the Mahajanapada period?
- A) Painted Grey Ware
- B) Northern Black Polished Ware
- C) Black and Red Ware
- D) Harappan Pottery
Answer: B) Northern Black Polished Ware
Q2. What is the key feature of Painted Grey Ware?
- A) Glossy Black Finish
- B) Black and Red Combination
- C) Painted designs on Grey Pottery
- D) None of the above
Answer: C) Painted designs on Grey Pottery
Q3. Black and Red Ware indicates which technological phase?
- A) Bronze Age
- B) Neolithic
- C) Iron Age
- D) Stone Age
Answer: C) Iron Age