THE MEWAR PLAIN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND MICROREGIONAL ANALYSIS IN RAJASTHAN, INDIA
Many analyses of early complex societies in South Asia utilize a broad regional approach to examine long-distance social processes and interactions. However, this large scale of investigation obscures routine daily practices and interactions. Using a smaller scale of analysis, the microregion, provides a way to analyze community formations and the most immediate social, economic, and political circumstances of the lives of ancient peoples. The Mewar Plain Archaeological Assessment (MPAA), a collaboration between Indian and American scholars, investigates microregional processes in northwest India by systematically sampling archaeological sites in the immediate vicinity of Gilund (c. 3000-1700 BCE), the largest documented Chalcolithic site of the Mewar Plain. This paper will present the results of MPAA excavations in recent years at the sites of Chatrikhera and Panchmata, located about 4 and 7 km from Gilund respectively. In addition, data from the MPAA’s regional site census, and oral narrative project will be presented.