Prehistoric India
Key notes
Prehistoric India refers to the period before written records. Knowledge comes mainly from tools, bones, settlements, paintings and burial remains.
Main stages
Palaeolithic Age
- Also called the Old Stone Age.
- Economy based on hunting and gathering.
- People used rough stone tools.
Main tool types:
- Hand axes.
- Cleavers.
- Choppers.
- Flake tools.
Important sites:
- Soan Valley.
- Hunsgi.
- Bhimbetka.
- Narmada Valley.
- Attirampakkam.
Mesolithic Age
- Also called the Middle Stone Age.
- Characterised by microliths.
- Hunting, fishing and gathering continued.
- Early domestication of animals began.
- Rock paintings became important.
Important sites:
- Bagor.
- Langhnaj.
- Adamgarh.
- Bhimbetka.
Neolithic Age
- Also called the New Stone Age.
Characterised by:
- Agriculture.
- Animal domestication.
- Polished stone tools.
- Permanent settlements.
- Pottery.
Important sites:
- Burzahom.
- Gufkral.
- Koldihwa.
- Chirand.
- Daojali Hading.
- Mehrgarh.
Chalcolithic Age
- Also called the Copper-Stone Age.
- Copper tools were used along with stone tools.
- Agriculture and village settlements expanded.
Important cultures:
- Ahar.
- Malwa.
- Jorwe.
- Kayatha.
Bhimbetka
- Located in Madhya Pradesh.
- Famous for prehistoric rock shelters and paintings.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Paintings depict animals, hunting and community life.
MCQs
Microliths are mainly associated with:
- A. Mesolithic Age
- B. Iron Age
- C. Gupta Age
- D. Medieval period
Answer: A
Bhimbetka is famous for:
- A. Rock shelters and paintings
- B. Ashokan pillars
- C. Gupta temples
- D. Harappan dockyards
Answer: A
Agriculture became a major feature of the:
- A. Neolithic Age
- B. Lower Palaeolithic Age
- C. Early Iron Age only
- D. Medieval period
Answer: A
Burzahom is located in:
- A. Kashmir
- B. Rajasthan
- C. Tamil Nadu
- D. Gujarat
Answer: A
The Chalcolithic Age is associated with the use of:
- A. Copper and stone
- B. Iron only
- C. Gold only
- D. Bronze only
Answer: A