Ancient History : Stone Age

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Ancient History

Prehistoric :- The period without written evidence of its history is called the Prehistoric period.

For example:- Stone age

Proto-historic :- Proto-historic period is the period having written evidence available which is still not deciphered. Proto-historic refers to the period between prehistoric and historical period.

For example:- Indus valley civilization.

Historic period :- The time after which we get Written evidence and we deciphered it is called historic period.

For example:- Vedic period

The earth is approximately 4000 million years old .

Outermost layer of earth is the crust and crust developed into four stages:-

  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary
  • Quaternary:- Recent phase of crust formation which is divided in two time period:-

(1) Pleistocene

(2) Holocene:- Stone Age

Note:- Human ancestors first evolved in Africa about 3 million years back and later migrated to different areas of the world . Homo erectus was the earliest human ancestor species to migrate out of Africa.

Stone Age:- Stone age refers to the prehistoric period during which stone tools were the most prevalent form of articles used by early man.

In India, the research on Stone Age Civilization started at first in 1863. The whole Stone Age has been categorized into three parts on the basis of difference of tools used. These are :-

  1. Palaeolithic period
  2. Mesolithic period
  3. Neolithic period

(1) Palaeolithic period:- Paleolithic period divided into 3 phases:-

(a) Lower Paleolithic period:- (5 lakh BC to 50,000 BC)

  • Tools:- Crude and large for example:- Handaxes , cleavers ,choppers
  • Site:- Soan Valley ( Punjab , pakistan) , Narmada Valley, Didwana ( Rajasthan), Bhimbetka caves ( MP) ,Bhimbandh(Munger, Bihar)

(b) Middle Paleolithic period:-

  • Time period:- 50,000BC to 40,000BC
  • Tools :- Use of flakes , Blades, Points
  • Site:- It coincides roughly with lower Paleolithic sites. Artifact have been also found at several places such as Narmada and south of Tungabhadra river.

(C) Upper Paleolithic Period:-

  • Time period:- 40,000 BC to 10,000 BC
  • It coincides roughly with last phase of Ice age( There have been altogether 5 Ice age)
  • Arrival of Homo sapiens
  • Tools :- Blades and Burins have been found
  • Site:- Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chotanagpur plateau etc.

(2) Mesolithic Period (9,000BC to 7,000 BC) :-

  • Age of Hunters and herders.
  • Domestication of Animals
  • Use of bow and arrows started in this period.
  • Tools:- use of microlith( small tools)
  • Site:- Bagor ( Rajasthan), Adamgarh(MP)

(3) Neolithic Period:- (7,000 BC to 3,000 BC) :-

  • Age of Food producer
  • Sites:- Mehrgarh(Balochistan, pakistan) , Burjahome( Kashmir):- Found dogs death body with masters in grave, gufkral( Kashmir) :- The people practice bothe agriculture and domestication of Animals) , Utnul (Andhra Pradesh), Chirand ( Bihar), Chechar (Bihar)
  • Tools:- The Neolithic Age is characterized by the use of both stone and bone tools . There is the presence of microlith.
  • Humans came to know the art of cultivation.
  • Pottery for the first time came into existence. Black Burnished ware , grey ware etc
  • Crops:- Rice , wheat and Barley etc.
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