Racial and Cultural Interrelations between India and the West at the Dawn of the Age of Copper
Summary
This article surveys archaeological and anthropological evidence for interactions between ancient India and Western Asia during the Chalcolithic period. Recent discoveries, including the Indus Valley civilisation at Mohenjo‑daro and excavations in Peking, Palestine, and Kenya, have prompted comparisons of skeletal remains and artefacts. The paper suggests affinities among early humans across Asia and Africa and explores possible influences of Mesopotamian and Sumerian cultures on the Indus Valley through similarities in pottery, seals, and urban planning. It discusses megalithic monuments and burial practices shared across India, Western Asia, and Europe, as well as parallels such as bull worship, mother goddess figurines, and copper objects. The article emphasises maritime and overland trade routes connecting the Indus region with Persia, Arabia, and the Mediterranean and points to western materials found at Mohenjo‑daro. While acknowledging that similarities could result from independent development, the author argues that they suggest broad interrelations and calls for further excavations and careful chronology.
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Conclusion
Drawing on recent archaeological discoveries, the article explores prehistoric links between India and Western Asia. Comparisons of skeletal remains, pottery styles, and ritual artifacts indicate that Chalcolithic communities from the Indus valley to Mesopotamia shared certain physical traits and cultural practices. Although evidence for direct contact remains tentative, the convergence of material culture and possible trade routes implies a network of interactions across Asia during the Copper Age.