The Cemetery H culture developed out of the northern part of the Indus Valley Civilisation around 1900 BC, in and around the Punjab region. It was named after a cemetery found in "area H" at Harappa.
The distinguishing features of this culture include:
- The use of cremation of human remains. The bones were stored in painted pottery burial urns. This is completely different to the Indus civilisation where bodies were buried in wooden coffins.
- Reddish pottery, painted in black with antelopes, peacocks etc., sun or star motifs, with different surface treatments to the earlier period.
- Expansion of settlements into the east.
- Use of new crops such as rice.
- Apparent breakdown of the widespread trade of the Indus civilisation, with materials such as marine shells no longer used.
- Continued use of mud brick for building.
Remains of the culture have been dated from about 1900 BC until about 1300 BC.
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