uF CHESTA + The present geological period is known as the Holocone Age which began about 11650 calender years before present. + In July 2018, the International Union of Geological Sciences split the Holocene epoch into 3 distinct subsections, Greenlandian (11,700 years ago to 8,200 years ago), Northgrippian (8,200 years ago to 4,200 years ago) and Meghalayan (4,200 years ago to the present). + It was preceded by the Pleistocene Age which is associated with the evolution of man. In this age our sub human ancestors used to make tools from stones and implement them for hunting and living. ‘+ Modern man originated in Africa. +The earth is about 4.5 billion years old and humans appeared on it only some 200,000 years ago. + Homo sapiens isa Latin term, meaning ‘thinking man. + Wenke states that agriculture is the modification of the environment to increase the productivity and usefulness of preferred wild food sources atthe expense Of the less ‘useful sources. The dog was the earliest domesticate and was independently domesticated in Asia, Central America and Northern Europe. Following domestication of the dog the next animal to be domesticated were goats occurring 10,000 to 8,000 BC. Cattle were the last of the main farmanimialsto be domesticated. + History is divided into pre-history, proto-history, aid history. + Events occurring before the,iaventiodl of writing are considered the domain of prehistory, which is generally represented by the three stoneages. + Proto-history refers to a petiod between prehistory and history, during which a culture or civilisation has not yet developed writing but are mentioned in the written records of a contemporary literate civilisation. For example, the script of the Harappan civilisation remains undeciphered; however, since its existence is noted in Mesopotamian writings, it is considered a part of proto-history. ‘+ The long history of pre-historic man is divided into 3 phases: 1, The Palaeolithic or the Early Stone Age; 2, ‘The Mesolithic or the Middle Stone Age; and 3. The Neolithic or the Lower Stone Age. PALAEOLITHIC CULTURE. (HUNTERS AND Foop GATHERARS) + The Palaeolithic culture covers the period of Pleistocene (The Ice Age), from 20,00,000 B.C. (WBBSE ) up to 10,000 BC. (NCERT) + Robert Bruce Foote discovered Palaeolithic stone ANCIENT INDIA: CHAPTER 2 THE STONE AGE tool, Pallavaram Handaxe, in 1863 near Chennai (the first Paleolithic Tool discovered in India.) Prehistoric study wasboosted after the Yale- Cambridge Expedition of Potwar plateau in the Siwalik in 1935 led by De Terra and Patterson. The Palaeolithic man of India are said to have belong to the Negrito Race and lived in caves and rock shelter. LowER PALAEOLITHIC AGE ‘The lower Palaeolithic tools are found throughout India excepting the Northern Alluvial Corridor and Kerala. ‘The Characteristic feature of lower Palaeolithic culture is the use of Chopper, Chopping tools and hand axes. ‘They used tools of unpolished, undressed rough stone. Lower Palacalithiesman was more or less of the status of Australopithecus Africanus ~ a semi erect ape like creature. Lower Palacolithic age tools are found in Soan or ‘Soham)River valley (Now in Pakistan), Kashmir, ‘Thar Dessert, Hiran Valley (Gujarat), rock shelters of Bhimbaithka (M.P) and Belan Valley, Mirzapur (uP). ‘The tools of lower Palaeolithic culture made of ‘quartzite rock. So they are also called quartzite man in India, Mrppte PALAEOLITHIC AGE ‘The Middle Palaeolithic culture stage is said to be dominated by Neanderthal man. ‘The middle Palaeolithic age tools are found in Soan, Narmada, and Tungabhadra river valley, Potwar plateau (between Indus and Jhelum), Sanghao Cave (now in Pakistai Man was still on process of evolution and Pithecanthropus or Homo erectus evolved. Some new materials were used in this phase for making tools. Those were glossy rocks of jasper, flint ‘or Chalcedony. It was from Nevasa (Maharashtra) in the Godavari Valley that first reliable clue was obtained regarding the stratigraphy and tool typology. Bhimbetka rock shelters and caves of Vindhyas are the best examples of cave dwellings. Dr V. S. Wakankar (one of the most renowned archeologists), discovered Bhimbetka caves in 1958. The word ‘Bhimbetka, derived from ‘Bhim Baitka: ‘These caves are named after ‘Bhima, one of the five Pandavas of Mahabharata. The tools were rood on flakes and blades; hence the phase is known as ‘flake culture’5 ware: amt curs BR f } oat et eregaten 80 ww CO co FTE TER ET! © aaron ea Rica Corman trpTTe one) 0 8 aa, Sera HBR CaS OTE fet 6 IKE) t © ert snc wm Hm art Rie, ate PTE OR ea Cerca ea me aR 0 ear fem ages 3 arm CHL 99 I TER BTC) np © a PRERETS FOE! UOTE HE) 4 © AEH TT Oa HUTT 41 SICH CE) a Mo ait ees emcees fore wee rea ceti omer is DP CICHADT NAC CONC STE ACA TCA CR TATE | - Upper PALAEOLITHIC AGE . ‘The upper Palaeolithic cultufesis marked by the appearance by new flint industries and the evolution * ‘of Homo Sapience or Modern Man. ‘The upper Palaeolithic tools are mainly based on blades and wide range bone tools were made including * ‘eye needles, fishing tools and harpoons. ‘The upper Palaeolithic tools are found in Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka, Maharashtra, Central MP, * Southern U.P and Chotanagpur Plateau. Bone tools found only at cave site of Kurnool and + Muchchatla Chintamani Gavi in Andhra Pradesh. ‘The relatively sudden and widespread appearance of Figurines and other artifacts reflecting art and rituals is another important feature of this age. . MesoLiTHic CULTURE (Hunrers AND Herpers) : ‘The Mesolithic Age came with the folding up of the Ice Age around 10000 B.C and continued tll 8000 B.C. (NCERT). oe © eat fe wRRIS 20 Fw CATH CHEE CO No cary onen © ere Onret ece AtETE Itisa transitional period between the Palaeolithic and the Neolithic phases. Mesolithic people achieved theie special adaption and settle in artificially erected structures as early as 8000 BC ‘We have only one site with such on early date on India, i.e, Sarai Nahar Rai (UP). The rest of them range from 5000 B.C. to 2000B.C. Hematites having been rubbed and spherical stone balls are the notable features ofthis age. ‘The Mesolithic tools are smaller in size and better in finishing (more geometric) than Palaeolithic age and are called Microliths. The lengths of microlths ranges from 1 to 8cm, In Rajasthan, Bagor is the most extensive site in the district of Bhilwara on the bank of the Kothari River. In Uttar Pradesh, Sarai Nahar Rai and Mahadaha are the two eminent sites. ‘The rock shelters of Adamgarh (Madhya Pradesh) yielded a lot of Mesolithic tools. Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh) is another noteworthy Mesolithic site.in Jharkhand, South of River Krishna, Tinnevelly in ‘Tamil Nadu, and Birbhanpur in West Bengal are the important sites. ‘The economy of early period of Mesolithic age was based on hunting, fishing and food gathering. ‘The first evidence of international disposal ofthe dead ‘comes from Mesolithic Era. Mesolithic era human burials have been found at Bagor in Rajasthan, Langang in Gujarat, Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, et. Pottery is absent at most Mesolithic sites, but it is present at Langhnaj in Gujarat and in the Kaimur region of Mirzapur. In 1867 the first rock painting in India was discovered at Sohagighat (Kaimur Hills, UP), Tue NEOLITHIC CULTURE (Foop Propucers) ‘The Neolithic Age began around 8090 B.C. (NCERT) heralding a new era of a life of man. His nomadic life in search of food came to an endihe no longer remain ‘a hunter and attained self sufficiency. ‘This age lasted till 4000 B.C. (WBBSE) He learnt the art of cultivation and became a food producer. A new relationship developed between him and a patch of cultivable land. “To help him in agriculture, animal were domesticated. “The resulted in an organised community or social life. “The change in the mode of life are of such a far reaching importance that this phase is termed as Neolithic Revolution. It is marked by the grinding and polishing of stones. Gordon Childe coined the term ‘Neolithic Revolution’ in 1935, ‘The stone tools can be studied under two groups: (a) packed, ground and polish stone implements and (b) ‘Small and chipped stone tools. ‘Main tools: Scrappers, adzes, celts, blades ‘The Neolithic people were oldest farming communities in the sub-continent. They lived in circular or rectangular lounges made of mud and reed. ‘The people of Mehargarh in the Sindh-Baluchistan produces different agriculture verities around 7000 BC. Burzahom néar Srinagar in Kashmir isa famous centre of this cultute, Thelpeople here lived in pit dwellings of irregular shapes, some of them are round, oval, sqdare or rectangular. Burial of man and animal was fn practice. Gracefulphandmade pots were made in Burzahom. ‘These were decorated with incised notched designs MMbeir pottery included black burnished ware, grey ‘wate and mat impressed ware. {Ihe Northern Neolithic Culture was also identified at ‘Gufkral and Martand near Srinagar. From the deposits of Lake of Rajasthan cereal pollen and charcoal have been found which indicate the beginning of agriculture. In the Belan valley of Uttar Pradesh, both wild and agriculture verities of rice are recovered from Koldihwa. ‘The remains of charred grains of paddy husk and wheat are quite visible in Chirand, on the basin of Ganga and. the Ghagra in Bihar. ‘The people of Kachar hills of Assam lived in mud walled houses around 4000-2000 B.C. Pots are hand made and decorated with basket impression. Neolithic Celts, axels and chisels have been discovered in Mayurbanj district of Odisha and Barudih in Singhbhum of Jharkhand. ‘The Neolithic phase covers the period from about 2500, B.C. to 1000 BC. in Utnur, Brehmagiri and Piklihal on the south of the Godavari River. Sanghakallu, Hallur, Kodekal, . Narsipur, Takkalakota and Piyampalli are the famous Neolithic sites of South. India. In the UP Himalayas, Uleri near Almora, megalithic burials have been noticed. Horse burials have been found here.EARLY PALEOLITHIC AGE (TOOLS FROM STONE CORE) CHOPPER CHOPPING TOOL HAND AXE CLEAVER MIDOLE PALEOLITHIC AGE (FLAKE TOOLS)