History of Plant and Animal Domestication

18 Questions

What do scientists study to confirm whether the sites were settlements of farmers and herders?

Remains of burnt grain

In which region of the subcontinent have some of the most important archaeological sites been found?

North-west India

What type of houses did people in Burzahom (present-day Kashmir) build?

Pit-houses dug into the ground

What kind of tools have archaeologists found at many sites that are different from Palaeolithic tools?

Neolithic tools

What is one significant impact of the domestication of plants and animals mentioned in the text?

Growth of settlements

What evidence suggests that people in early settlements could cook food both indoors and outdoors?

Cooking hearths found inside and outside huts

What is one of the tools mentioned in the text that was used for grinding grain and plant produce?

Mortars and pestles

Which material was commonly used for making tools during the Palaeolithic period based on the text?

Stone

What are some of the earliest plants to be domesticated mentioned in the text?

Wheat and barley

What important dietary items were cooked using pots, according to the text?

Grains like rice, wheat, and lentils

How did people store grain for food and seed according to the text?

In large clay pots, wove baskets, or dug pits into the ground

Which activity did people begin to engage in with the use of pots according to the text?

Cooking food

In what region was Mehrgarh, an important archaeological site, located based on the text?

In a fertile plain near the Bolan Pass

What is an important source of food that animals provide if they are looked after carefully?

Meat

What was one of the requirements for people when they began growing plants according to the text?

Staying in the same place for a long time looking after the plants

What could have been stored in the earthen pots mentioned in the text?

Food items like grains

What are some other things that could have been obtained from animals besides food according to the text?

Clothing and tools

Would hunter-gatherers have made and used pots according to the text?

Yes, they would have used pots for storage

Study Notes

Domestication of Plants and Animals

Wheat and barley were among the earliest plants to be domesticated.
Sheep and goat were among the earliest animals to be domesticated.

Grain Production and Storage

Grain was used as seed, food, and gifts.
Grain had to be stored carefully for both food and seed, leading to the development of storage containers like clay pots, baskets, and pits.

Rearing Animals

Animals provided milk, meat, and could be used as a 'store' of food.
Animals were used for purposes beyond food, such as providing materials like wool and hide.

Tools and Technology

New stone tools were developed, including polished tools with a fine cutting edge.
Mortars and pestles were used for grinding grain and other plant produce.
Earthen pots were used for storing and cooking food.
Cloth was woven using materials like cotton that could be grown.

Impact on Lifestyle

Domestication led to a settled life, with people staying in the same place for a long time to look after their plants and animals.
This led to changes in the way people lived, including the development of houses, cooking hearths, and new tools.

Early Farming and Herding Communities

Early farming and herding communities were established in the north-west, in present-day Kashmir, and in east and south India.
Archaeological evidence, including remains of burnt grain and animal bones, provides insight into the lives of these early communities.
Sites like Mehrgarh and Burzahom provide examples of early farming and herding settlements.

Explore the history of plant and animal domestication, from wheat and barley to sheep and goat. Learn about the ways in which grains were used as food and gifts, and how this led to a new way of life for early humans.

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