The black and red ware culture (BRW) is an early Iron Age archaeological culture of the northern Indian Subcontinent. It is dated to roughly the 12th – 9th centuries BC, and associated with the post-Rigvedic Vedic civilization.

It is reaches from the upper Gangetic plain in Uttar Pradesh to the eastern Vindhya range and West Bengal.

Use of Iron, although sparse at first, is relatively early, postdating the beginning of the Iron Age in Anatolia (Hittites) by only two or three centuries, and predating the European (Celts) Iron Age by another two to three hundred years. Recent findings in Northern India show Iron working since 1800 BC.

It is succeeded by the Painted Grey Ware culture.

See also

• Kuru (India)