The age of history in which the Vedas were composed in the Indian subcontinent is known as the Vedic Age. The Vedas were composed by the Aryans. There are four Vedas—the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Arthaveda. The period when the Aryans first settled in India during 1500–1000 BC is known as the Early Vedic Period. Later, between 1000 BC and 500 BC, the Aryans moved eastwards and settled along the banks of the rivers Ganga and Yamuna. This period is known as the Later Vedic Period. Archaeological Sources of the Vedic Period are as follows:
Archaeological Sources of the Vedic Period
- The remains of pottery and iron implements are some archaeological sources that shed light on the Vedic Period.
- Iron played an important role in the advancement of civilization in the world. Iron in India began to be used from about 1000 BC. Iron was a harder metal that could be used to make a variety of tools and implements.
- Iron was used to make agricultural tools like axes which were used to clear forests for cultivation. With the use of iron plows, sickles, and hoes, large areas of forestlands were brought under cultivation, and crops such as wheat, rice, and barley were grown. Agriculture thus became the major occupation of the people.
- The use of iron began to be used to make implements such as hammers, nails, saws, tongs, and chisels. This gave rise to occupations such as carpentry, tanning, toolmaking, and spinning.
- Because of its hardness and durability, iron was used to make weapons such as swords, armors, shields, and slings.
- Pottery is an important source of information of the period. Three kinds of pottery—Grey Ware (GW), Painted Grey Ware (PGW), and Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW)—have been discovered from Vedic sites. The NBPW pottery was glossy and shining. Pottery tells us about the economic and social lives of the people.
Also, Read The Vedic Period