Prehistory of India

Prehistoric Age is that phase in the development of mankind when man had not started keeping written records while Protohistoric Age is that phase in the development of mankind of which we get written records but are undeciphered.

Prehistory:

1. Paleolithic Age
2. Mesolithic Age
3. Neolithic Age
4. Chalcolithic Age

The earliest traces of human existence in India, so far discovered, goes back to the second interglacial period between 4,00,000 BC and 2,00,000 BC. Homo sapiens first appeared around 36,000 BC.

ANCIENT INDIAN CIVILIZATION:

Early man lived in India 5,00,000 years ago.

PALEOLITHIC PERIOD (3,40,000 BC- 30,000 BC):
Stone tool which was mainly used is Hand Axe. Main stone used is Quartz. Hence, Paleolithic culture is also called Quartzite Culture. Paleolithic Period can be divided into 3 phases,
1. Lower Paleolithic (3,40,000 BC- 2,20,000 BC) - Homonid sp.
2. Middle Paleolithic ( 2,20,000 BC- 1,20,000 BC) - Homo eructus.
3. Upper Paleolithic (1,20,000 BC - 30,000 BC) - Homo sapien.

Lower Paleolithic Habitations: The earliest habitation in South Asia is Himalayan Area, around 3,00,00 and 1,20,000 years ago. Soan Valley in West Pakistan ( Soan is a tributory of Indus). Flake industry found here is called Late Soan. The first hand axe industry was located at Attirampakam, near Chennai. Paintings of the Paleolithic Period can be seen in Bhimbetka Hills in Madhya Pradesh ans Belan Valley in Uttar Pradesh and Borra Caves in Andhra Pradesh. Flint was commonly used as it is hard but flakes easily.


Middle Paleolithic Habitations: Marked regional variations in the fleke industry.Navasa in Maharashtra. Types of tools - Points, Borers, Scrapers and nodules. These tools were mainly made from chert and Jasper. Chert and Jasper are selicious rocks.

Upper Paleolithic Period: Blade and Burin Industry is typical of this period. Widely distributed in A.P., Karnataka, M.P., Maharashtra. Other tools - Scrapers, Points, Borers, Bored Stones - made of Quartzite or Siliceous rock. For the first time tools made of Bone appeared in India. For the first time, the earliest recognisable art and ornamentation appeared. Rock paintings of Bhimbetka caves, Adamgarh Hill and bone figurine found in Belan Valley are a few examples.

MESOLITHIC PERIOD (30,000 BC- 10,000 BC): Tools are called microliths (2.5cm in length). Tool types - Trapezes, Triangles, Lunates. Man started taming dogs, sheep and goat. Man started settled life during this period.Microliths were discovered at Birbhanpur in Damodar Valley (Bihar), Tirunalvelly district in Tamilnadu, Godavari Valley in A.P.,and Langhnaj in Gujarat. Human skeletons and bones of animals like deers and buffaloes were found at Langhnaj. Bow and arrow are used for the first time. Animal skin is used for clothing.

NEOLITHIC PERIOD (10,000 BC - 4,500 BC):

Man started cultivation of food. Man, thus, became a food producer. Agriculture became the basis for civilization. Zericho Village in Jordan Valley is considered to be the earliest village settlement with agriculture (7,000 BC). Agriculture first started near Nile river in Egypt. Crops which entered India through Central Asia are Wheat and Barley. Tools - Axes, Adzes, Chisels. Vessels made of wood have been used. Needles, rings and earrings were prepared from bones. Figures of women were made with unburnt clay. Man learnt using wheel and making pottery with it. They knew weaving of cloth. They even knew ship building.

Sites - 1. Brahmagiri 2. Sanganakallu 3. Utnur 4. Tekkalkota 5. Maski

They domesticated sheep and began making garments of wool.
Other Neolithic sites - Burzahom and Gofkral near Kashmir.
Burzahom - Pit dwelling and Double burial system.
Gofkral - No pottery - aceramic Neolithic civilization.
For the first time in the world, pots were made at Chopani Mando in U.P.
For the first time rice was cultivated at Mehargarh (U.P.), Adhampur (U.P.).
Tools made of bones - Chirand (Bihar)
Domestication of animals was absent in Assam.
In south India maximum number of neolithic sites were seen in Karnataka - T.Narsipur, Hosur, Takkalikota, Bhagalkot, Kopparai.
In A.P. - Utnur (Adilabad) and Nagarjunakonda (Guntur).
TamilNadu - Payampalli
In south India ashmounds have been discoveres which are an evidence of the extensive cultivation. South Indians were the first to cultivate rice. In the west - Mehrghar is a neolithic site situated near Baluchistan in Pakistan. The neolithic culture which lasted for the maximum period is Mehrghar. Mehrghar had trsde with Mesapatomian civilization and was thus indirectly responsible for Indus Valley Civilization.
First metal discovered by man was Copper.

COPPER AGE (4,500 BC - 2,500 BC):

Towns and cities started developing. A constitutional systyem has come to being. Script has started. Certain stone tools were used along with metal tools, hence copper age is also called Chalcolithic Age. Indus Valley in India remained as a major center for significant copper age.