Prehistoric Cultures in India | UPSC Civil Services Exam | Career Launcher

Chronological sequence

Name of Prehistorical period

Time period

I

Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)

2.5 Million BC to 8,000 BC*

II

Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)

9,000 BC to 4000 BC*

III

Neolithic (New Stone Age)

7000 BC to 1000 BC*

IV

Chalcolithic

2100 BC to 700 BC*

I. Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age)

Period

2.5 Million BC to 8,000 BC*

Features

• Part of the Ice Age (1,00,000 to 8,000 BC)

• Use of fire was started during this time.

• Use of land bridges was found during this period.

Tools

• Used tools such as axe, cleavers and scrappers made out of bones and stones. 

Habitation & occupation

• Hunters & gatherers

• Nomadic people - no settled life

• No knowledge of agriculture

• Found shelter in caves

• Cave paintings are found from these times, there are about eight hundred rock shelters in Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh), five hundred of which bear paintings.

Important sites

Indian sites

• Belan valley (Uttar Pradesh) 

• Sohan valley (Present day Pakistan)

• Punjab

• Kashmir

• Rajasthan (Thar desert)

• Narmada Valley

World sites

• Africa

• Western Europe

II. Mesolithic Period (Middle Stone Age)

Period

9,000 BC to 4000 BC*

Features

• The climate became warm and dry in this age.

• Climate change also resulted in changes in flora & fauna.

• This made it possible for human beings to move to new areas.

• It was a transitional period (intermediate period) between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. Thus, it is also sometimes referred as the Late Stone age.

Tools

• Size of the tools became small. The characteristic tools of this period are Microliths that were small stone tools probably stuck to stones to be used as saws and sickles.

• Tools used include blades, daggers, spearheads, crescents, arrowheads, triangles, sickles, trapezes, etc.

Important sites

Indian sites

• Bagaur (Rajasthan): Had a microlithic industry

• Adamgarh (Madhya Pradesh): Earliest evidence of domestication of animals)

• Langhnaj (Gujarat): Earliest evidence of burial of dead are found. 

III. Neolithic Period (New Stone Age)

Period

7000 BC– 2500 BC*

Tools

• Polished stone tools were used.

• Burins, saws and chisels were found

• Black burnished ware, grey ware and mat-impressed ware used in pottery.

Habitation & occupation

• Systematic agriculture was started that was made possible due to change in the climate.

• Use of fertilizers, sickle and pottery in agriculture

• Slash and burn system was used.

• Horse Gram and Ragi were cultivated

• Wheel was discovered in this age.

• Domestication of cattle, sheep & goats

• Evidence of dogs, pigs and chickens are also found

• Fire baked earthen pots are found at many places

Important sites

Indian sites

• Burzahom (2700 BC, Kashmir)

• Gufkral (2000 BC, Kashmir)

• Chirand (2000 BC, near Patna) 

• South of Godavari river

• Hills of Assam, Garo hills (Meghalaya)

• Norther spurs of Vindhyas in Mirzapur and Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh)

• Hallur, Maski, Brahmagiri, Takkalkota (Karnataka)

• Paiyampalli (2000 to 1000 BC, Tamil Nadu)

• Piklihal (Andhra Pradesh)

• Untur (2000 to 1000 BC, Andhra Pradesh)

• Mehargarh (7000 BC, Pakistan) – Oldest neolithic settlement

IV. The Chalcolithic Age

Period

2100 BC to 700 BC*

Features

• More of a transitional period between the Neolithic & the Bronze age. 

• Use of Copper & stone tools was found. 

Tools

• Main tools of this period were made of both stones and copper. 

• Unique feature of this period was painted black pottery as well as Red Ware

Habitation & occupation

• Mainly involved in farming activities. 

• Unique feature of this era was their burial practice.

Important sites

Some important Indian sites of this era include 

• Gilund (Rajasthan), 

• Balathal (Rajasthan), 

• Ahar (Rajasthan), 

• Dhulia (Svalda culture, Maharashtra), 

• Narmada valley (Gujarat) and 

• Chambal valley