preVedic

PreVedic denotes the span in the Indian subcontinent before the composition of the oldest Vedic texts. It is a historiographical category used to describe diverse cultural, archaeological, and linguistic strata that precede the emergence of the Vedic tradition, typically dated to around 1500 BCE, though related cultures extend far earlier.

Archaeological cultures associated with the preVedic landscape include the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1300 BCE) and post-Harappan developments in north-western and northern India. This period reflects a Bronze Age milieu with urban and rural communities, long-distance exchange, and varied material practices that predate the Vedic literary corpus.

Language and script during the preVedic era are not well established. The linguistic landscape is uncertain, with scholars proposing early Dravidian, Munda, and early Indo-Aryan dialects in different regions. The Indus script remains undeciphered, which further complicates direct linguistic attributions to specific populations of the time.

Religion and social organization in the preVedic context are largely inferred from material culture and later textual traditions. Direct evidence is scarce, and many ideas about early ritual life are conjectural. Some scholars see continuity with later Hindu practices, while others emphasize distinctive features that would later be rediscovered or transformed during the Vedic period.

Historiography and scope: The term preVedic covers a heterogeneous set of regional traditions and timeframes rather than a single culture. Ongoing archaeology and comparative linguistics continue to refine its boundaries and its connections to early Indo-Aryan and Dravidian worlds.