Home Region:  Southern India (South Asia)

Deccan - Iron Age

1200 BCE 300 BCE
D G SC WF R
EQ 2020  in_deccan_ia / InDecIA
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
2700 BCE 1200 BCE Deccan - Neolithic (in_deccan_nl)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
300 BCE 300 CE Early Cholas (in_cholas_1)    [None]
300 BCE 300 CE Early Pandyas (in_pandya_emp_1)    [None]
205 BCE 101 BCE Post-Mauryan Kingdoms (in_post_mauryan_k)    [None]


  General Description  
The South Indian Iron Age lasted, roughly, from 1200 to 300 BCE. [1] The vast majority of Iron Age megalithic structures and associated sites have been found in the modern-day Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. [2] As in the preceding Neolithic period, South Indians sustained themselves through bovine and caprine pastoralism as well as the cultivation of millet and pulses - and, increasingly, wheat, barley, and rice. Settlement designs became more complex and labour-intensive, and new social arrangements and mortuary practices emerged. [3]
Population and political organization
Differences in the scale, design and materials of mortuary megalithic structures and associated grave goods point to the growing hierarchization of South Indian societies at this time. [3] However, there was some variation in terms of the sociopolitical organization of individual communities: for example, it is likely that some chiefs with limited decision-making powers ruled over single settlements, and that more powerful leaders based in large centres exerted some control over surrounding settlements, and that some polities were made up of several settlements ruled by a hierarchy of leaders who answered to a single paramount chief. The first type of polity probably prevailed at the beginning of the Iron Age, while the second and third type likely became more common towards its end. [4]
No population estimates for this period could be found in the specialist literature.

[1]: (Johansen 2014, 59) Peter G. Johansen. 2014. ’The Politics of Spatial Renovation: Reconfiguring Ritual Practices in Iron Age and Early Historic South India’. Journal of Social Archaeology 14 (1): 59-86.

[2]: (Brubaker 2001-2002, 253) Robert Brubaker. 2001-2002. ’Aspects of Mortuary Variability in the South Indian Iron Age’. Bulletin of the Deccan College Post-Graduate & Research Institute 60-61: 253-302.

[3]: (Johansen 2014, 65) Peter G. Johansen. 2014. ’The Politics of Spatial Renovation: Reconfiguring Ritual Practices in Iron Age and Early Historic South India’. Journal of Social Archaeology 14 (1): 59-86.

[4]: (Brubaker 2001-2002, 287-91) Robert Brubaker. 2001-2002. ’Aspects of Mortuary Variability in the South Indian Iron Age’. Bulletin of the Deccan College Post-Graduate & Research Institute 60-61: 253-302.

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.
Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia) was in:
 (1200 BCE 301 BCE) Deccan
Home NGA: Deccan
General Variables
Identity and Location Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 43 P 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Original Name Deccan - Iron Age 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Alternative Name 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Succeeding Entity Mauryan Empire 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Succeeding Entity
300 BCE 300 CE
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Succeeding Entity
300 BCE 300 CE
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Succeeding Entity
205 BCE 101 BCE
Post-Mauryan Kingdoms (in_post_mauryan_k)   [None] 
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Preceding Entity
2700 BCE 1200 BCE
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Language Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Religion Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 1200 BCE 1000 BCE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 999 BCE 600 BCE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 599 BCE 300 BCE
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Polity Territory 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Polity Population 1200 BCE 1000 BCE
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Polity Population 999 BCE 600 BCE
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Polity Population 599 BCE 300 BCE
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Largest Communication Distance 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 1200 BCE 1001 BCE
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Settlement Hierarchy 1000 BCE 601 BCE
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Settlement Hierarchy 600 BCE 301 BCE
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Religious Level 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Military Level 1200 BCE 1000 BCE
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Military Level 999 BCE 600 BCE
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Military Level 599 BCE 300 BCE
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Administrative Level 1200 BCE 1000 BCE
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Administrative Level 999 BCE 600 BCE
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Administrative Level 599 BCE 300 BCE
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Professions Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Professional Priesthood 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Professional Military Officer 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Occupational Complexity 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Law Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Judge Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
Court Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Irrigation System 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Food Storage Site 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Port Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Canal Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Bridge 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Information / Writing System Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Script Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Nonwritten Record Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Mnemonic Device Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Sacred Text Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Religious Literature Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Practical Literature Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Philosophy Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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History Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Fiction 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Calendar Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Information / Money Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Precious Metal 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Paper Currency Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Indigenous Coin Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Foreign Coin Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Article Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Store Of Wealth 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Information / Postal System Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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General Postal Service Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Courier Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Modern Fortification Absent 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Moat 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Earth Rampart 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Ditch 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Complex Fortification Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Military use of Metals Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 1199 BCE 551 BCE
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Steel 550 BCE 451 BCE
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Steel 450 BCE 300 BCE
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Iron 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Copper 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Bronze 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Projectiles Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Sling 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Self Bow 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Javelin 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Handheld Firearm Absent 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Crossbow 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Composite Bow 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Atlatl 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Handheld weapons Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Sword 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Spear 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Polearm 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Dagger 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Battle Axe 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Elephant 1200 BCE 1000 BCE
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Elephant 999 BCE 700 BCE
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Elephant 999 BCE 700 BCE
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Elephant 699 BCE 300 BCE
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Donkey 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Camel 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Armor Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Shield 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Scaled Armor 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Plate Armor Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Limb Protection Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Leather Cloth 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Laminar Armor Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Helmet 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Chainmail 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Breastplate 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Naval technology Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 1200 BCE  300 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Deccan - Iron Age (in_deccan_ia)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
View all Crisis Cases
Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions