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{{Infobox archaeological culture
| name        = Anarta Tradition
| map         =
| mapalt      =
| altnames    =
| horizon     =
| region      =[[South Asia]] ([[Gujarat]])
| period      =[[Chalcolithic]]
| dates       =c. 3950 BCE to 1900 BCE
| typesite    =
| majorsites  =[[Loteshwar]], Datrana
| extra       =
| precededby  =possibly Mesolithic peoples
| followedby  = [[Harappan Civilization]]
| definedby   =P. Ajithprasad and V. H. Sonawane
| antiquatedby=
| module      =
}}
{{History of Gujarat}}
{{History of South Asia}}
The '''Anarta tradition''' or '''Anarta ware''' is a [[chalcolithic]] [[archeological culture|culture]] tentatively dated between c. 3950 BCE to 1900 BCE based on radio carbon dates from [[Loteshwar]] and [[Gola Dhoro]].<ref name="K 2015"/> The sites associated with it are located in [[Gujarat]], India.

==Nomenclature==
During the earlier excavations at [[Surkotada]], the ceramics of this culture were described as the coarse red or gray "local" ware. P. Ajitprasad and V. H. Sonawane described these non-Harappan ceramics from north Gujarat as the "Anarta ware". [[Anarta]] is a historical name of north Gujarat. The name later applied retrospectively to this type of ceramics found from other sites.<ref name=Harris>{{Cite thesis|last=Suzanne|first=Harris|title=Mobility and Variation in Chalcolithic North Gujarat, India (Ca 3600 – 1800 Bc)|date=2011|publisher=University of Pennsylvania|url=https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/359/|language=en|pages=101–106}} {{open access}} Publicly accessible Penn Dissertations. Paper 359.</ref>

== Geographical range ==
The core area of Anarta tradition is located in [[north Gujarat]] having 67 sites while four sites are reported from [[Kutch]] and three sites from [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] regions. The [[Padri Ware]] is not very different from the Anarta tradition. So if it is considered as the Anarta tradition, its ten sites in Saurashtra can be added to the Anarta tradition.<ref name="K 2015">{{Cite journal|last1=K.|first1=Krishnan|last2=S. V.|first2=Rajesh|date=2015|editor-last=Dr.|editor-first=Shakirullah|editor2-last=Young|editor2-first=Ruth|title=Scenario of Chalcolithic Site Surveys in Gujarat|url=https://www.academia.edu/27091436|journal=Pakistan Heritage|language=en|publisher=Department of Archaeology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan|volume=7|pages=4–5|via=Academia.edu}}</ref><ref name=Harris/><ref name="SV 2011">{{cite thesis|last=SV|first=Rajesh|title=A Comprehensive Study of the Regional Chalcolithic Cultures of Gujarat|date=2011|publisher=Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Faculty of Arts, The [[Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda]]|chapter-url=https://www.academia.edu/6658623|type=Ph.D.|chapter=I. Introduction|pages=3-4, 168-169|via=Academia}}</ref>

==Sites and association with Harappans==
The ceramics similar to the Anarta tradition was first reported from [[Surkotada]] with Classical Harappan (IA, IB and IC periods) ceramics. When [[Nagwada]] in [[Surendranagar district]] was excavated, this distinctive regional type of ceramics were first recognized where it was associated with Pre-Urban and Urban Harappan artifacts. The Anarta tradition was recognized as an independent culture when [[Loteshwar]] in [[Patan district]] was excavated in 1991-92. These ceramics are also associated with Pre-Urban Harappan Sindh Type Pottery/Burial pottery (Amri Nal type) found at [[Motipipli]] and [[Datrana]] and with Pre-Prabhas pottery at Datrana. These ceramics are also compared and found similar to the [[Padri Ware]]. These ceramics are also found in the association of the Classical Harappan and Sorath Harappan elements at [[Gola Dhoro]] (Bagasara) in Saurashtra and [[Shikarpur, Gujarat|Shikarpur]] in Kutch. These ceramics are also found [[Rangpur, Gujarat|Rangpur]] IIC period. They are not found associated with Post-Urban Harrapan artefacts at any sites.<ref name="K 2015" /><ref name="Harris" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273131140|title=Chalcolithic Cultures of Gujarat (c. 3950 – 900 BCE): An Appraisal In "Pracyabodha – Indian Archaeology and Tradition (Professor T.P. Verma Festschrift Volume I)"|last1=Rajesh|first1=S.V.|last2=Krishnan|first2=K|date=2014-01-01|isbn=9789350501450|pages=198|doi=10.13140/2.1.2989.3925}}</ref> Other sites are [[Panchasar]], Santhli, [[Lothal]], Zekhada, [[Rojdi]] and possibly [[Desalpur]].<ref name="Harris" /> These sites are concentrated in [[Patan district|Patan]], [[Mehsana district|Mehsana]] and [[Banaskantha district|Banaskantha]] districts in north Gujarat.<ref name="SV 2011" /> These sites in north Gujarat are located in sand dunes which may have provided fresh water from its interdunal depressions and pastures for animals. These people may have originated from the early Mesolithic people settled here.<ref name="SV 2011" /> The lived alongside other "aboriginal" hunter-gatherer people.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Stone|first=Elizabeth C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nWmRDwAAQBAJ&q=anarta+tradition&pg=PA313|title=Settlement and Society: Essays Dedicated to Robert McCormick Adams|date=2007-12-31|publisher=ISD LLC|isbn=978-1-938770-97-5|pages=313}}</ref>

==Ceramics==
The Anarta ceramics include gritty red ware, fine red ware, burnished red ware and burnished grey/black wares. The pottery from this tradition are hand or slow wheel made and are coarse and well-fired. The vessel forms include straight or convex sided bowls with incurved rims; basins with thick flaring rim; pots or jars with flaring rim, narrow neck and bulging body. These vessels are treated with red slip with paintings in red, black and white.<ref name="K 2015" /><ref name=Harris/><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Shirvalkar|first=Prabodh Suhas|title=Pre and Early Harappan Cultures of Gujarat with Special Reference to Gulf of Cambay Region|date=2008|journal=Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute|volume=68/69|pages=411–415|jstor=42931224|issn=0045-9801}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Chalcolithic cultures of Asia]]
[[Category:Archaeological cultures of South Asia]]
[[Category:History of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Archaeological cultures in India]]