The Stone Age Overview

Study Notes

The Stone Age

The Stone Age is a historic period characterized by the use of stone to create tools and other objects.
The Stone Age is further divided into three main phases:
- Paleolithic: The early Stone Age (Old Stone Age) from (5 Lakh BC-10,000 BC)
  - Lower Palaeolithic: (5 Lakh BC-50,000 BC)
    - Known for stone tools and hunting and gathering
    - Significant sites include Soan/Sohan (Punjab), Belan Valley (Uttar Pradesh), Didwana (Rajasthan), Nevasa (Maharashtra), Hunasagi/Hungsi (Karnataka), Pahalgam (Kashmir), and Patne (Maharashtra).
  - Middle Palaeolithic: (50,000-40,000 BC)
    - Characterized by 'flake' technology, focusing on hunting and food gathering.
  - Upper Palaeolithic: (40,000-10,000 BC)
    - Coincided with the last phase of the Pleistocene, the ice age.
    - This period saw the emergence of Homo sapiens (modern humans).
    - Famous site includes Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh), Inamgaon, Nevada, Didwana (Rajasthan), and Maharashtra.
- Mesolithic: The middle Stone Age
  - Also known as the Late Stone Age or Microlithic period (8000 BC-4000 BC).
  - It marked the transitional phase between the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods.
  - This period saw a warmer climate, increased flora, and fauna.
  - Significant sites include Langhnaj (Gujarat), Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh), Chopani Mando (Uttar Pradesh), Bagor (Rajasthan), Sanganakallu (Karnataka), Tuticorin (Southern Tamil Nadu), Adamgarh (Madhya Pradesh).
- Neolithic: The new Stone Age (7000 BC-10,000 BC)
  - Marked by the emergence of food production through agriculture.
  - Other hallmarks include the use of pottery for storing excess food grains, the emergence of art, and the ownership of property.
  - Key sites:
    - Mehrgarh (Baluchistan): Evidence of houses and crops like wheat, barley, and cotton.
    - Kashmir Valley: Burzahom and Gufkral
      - Burzahom: Located 16 km west of Srinagar. Domestic dogs were buried with their owners. People lived in pits beside a lake.
      - Gufkral: Also known as the 'cave of potters' (41 km southwest of Srinagar).
    - Bihar: Chirand (bone tools).
    - Karnataka: Sanganakallu, Brahmagiri, Maski, Piklihal, Hallur, with evidence of millet cultivation.
    - Uttar Pradesh: Allahabad (cultivation of rice).
    - Andhra Pradesh: Around the Bhima, Krishna, and Tungabadra rivers. Notable sites include Budihal, Utnur, Nagarjunakonda.
    - Tamil Nadu: Paiyampalli and Kaveri.
    - Belan Valley: Koldihwa and Mahagara (domestication of rice in 7000 BC).
    - Garo Hills in Meghalaya.
    - Daojali Hading (Assam) where jadeite stone is found.
    - Catal Huyuk (Turkey) is one of the earliest known human protocities.

The Copper Age (Chalcolithic)

This period marked the first use of copper by humans.
People lived in rural communities and the earliest copper tools were discovered at Ganeshwar (Rajasthan).
Significant sites:
- Rajasthan: Ahar and Gilund (near Banas Valley), Khetri mines (copper mines).
- Eastern India: Chirand (Ganga), Burdwan district, Midnapore district.
- Western Madhya Pradesh: Malwa (Narmada), Kayatha (Kalisindh), Eran, Malajkhand (copper mines).
- Western Maharashtra: Jorwe (first copper tools), Parvara (Godavari), Savalda (Tapti river), Daimabad (largest site), Nevasa, Chandoli, Inamgaon, Nasik, Navdatoli (Narmada).
Burial practices during this period included 'urn' burial and the lack of knowledge of horses and burnt bricks.
Pottery included black and red, and ochre-coloured pottery.

Other Key Insights

The word "India" originates from the Indus River, which is called Sindhu in Sanskrit.
Megaliths, stone pieces set in a circular shape around graves, were used as graves and memorials. The practice began around 3000 years ago.
A celt in the Neolithic period was a tool.
The earliest evidence of rice cultivation was found in Koldihwa (Uttar Pradesh).
The skull of Homo erectus was discovered in Hathnora (Madhya Pradesh, near Narmada).
Gauri Gun Dam is a significant archaeological site located in Telangana.