The rich painted grey ware and northern black polished ware culture of upper and middle Ganga valley Region-A review with emphasis on settlement pattern

The rich Painted Grey Ware culture is credited with having initiative of extensive agriculture in Upper and Middle Ganga Valley, thereby laying the foundation of historic territorial states. Painted Grey Ware (1200-800B.C.) has demonstrated that significantly large populations continued to occupy Ganga daob region. As the name illustrates PGW were fine wheel well fired grey pottery on which patterns in lines and dots were painted with black pigments before firing. It was made out of well worked high quality clay. The PGW was succeeded by new and striking pottery known as Northern Black Polished Ware (600–100B.C.). This black lustrous pottery was a hallmark of uniform culture extending from Punjab to lower Ganga Valley in east and Vindhyas in south. This culture provided the milieu for early cities of classical India, for establishment of dynasties like Saisunagas, Nandas and Mauryas, for the development of characteristic Indian script Brahmilipi and of Indian coinage. Thus, NBPW was the originator of rich heritage-second Urbanisation in India (6th century B.C.) that has given a new dimension to Indian History.