The earliest evidence of pottery in the Indian subcontinent was found at Chopanimando (modern Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh state, India).
- During the initial stage, the pots were hand-made. These were thick and unrefined. Later on, wheels were invented. The wheels turn pots were thin and far more refined.
- With the passage of time, a number of pottery cultures emerged in the Indian subcontinent like BRW, OCP, PGW and NBPW culture. The phases of human life are identified with particular types of pottery.
List of Pottery culture in Indian subcontinent
- Black and Red Ware culture (BRW)
- Ochre Coloured Pottery culture (OCP)
- Painted Grey Ware culture (PGW)
- Northern Black Polished Ware culture (NBPW or NBP)
Black and Red Ware culture (BRW)
Black and redware pottery culture flourished in the Indian subcontinent from 2000 BC to 100 AD. It is associated with the Harappan Civilization, Bronze age, and early iron age.
- These spots were black from inside and near the ring, and red from outside. This typical color combination was attained through the inverted fire method.
Ochre Coloured Pottery culture (OCP)
Ochre Coloured Pottery culture (OCP) flourished in Gangetic Valley from 2000 BC to 1500 BC. It is associated with the Bronze age. It illustrates correlations between Late Harappan and Vedic culture. These pots are light reddish in color.
The Ochre Coloured Pottery culture (OCP) represented ’s final phase of the Bronze Age of North India and was followed by the black and red ware culture of the Iron Age and the culture of Painted Grey Ware.
Painted Grey Ware culture (PGW)
Painted grey ware pottery is an iron age culture that flourished from 1000 BC to 600 BC. It was a pottery culture of the later Vedic period age. The ports are grey in color.
Northern Black Polished Ware culture (NBPW or NBP)
During 600 BC to 100 AD, Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW or NBP) were used in North India from Takshila to Bangal (Tamralipti port). This was a pottery of Mahajanapada period, second urbanization phase (600 BC), Mauryan age and post-Mauryan period.