Pre Historic Age in India- UPSC Notes

Pre Historic Age in India- UPSC Notes

The prehistory of India dates back to the beginning of the Stone Age or Paleolithic Age and ends with the Iron Age, just before the Indus civilization. The prehistoric age is estimated to be roughly 200,000 BC. From about 3500 to 2500 BC. The date the first civilization was formed. Homo sapiens entered the Indian subcontinent around 200,000 BC. and 40000 BC. The prehistoric period of India, also known as the Stone Age, mainly he can be divided into three periods.

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

Paleolithic Age

The Paleolithic Age is also called the Paleolithic Age. From 500,000 BC he dates back to 10,000 years. At that time, the Indians belonged to the "Negrito" race. Paleolithic can be divided into 3 parts

1. Lower Paleolithic
2. Middle Paleolithic
3. Upper Paleolithic

These three eras are part of the Paleolithic and differ in tools shows and belongs to different aspects of India.
1. Lower Paleolithic
The Lower Paleolithic was an ice age and consisted primarily of hunter-gatherers. Roughly carved stones were used by people for hunting. The tools used by people in the Paleolithic period were very crude in character, and by the end of that era people had started making and using fire. Major Paleolithic Evidence Locations:

• Bori (Maharashtra)
• Soan Valley (Pakistan)
• Kashmir
• Gujarat
• Saurashtra
• Chotanagar Plateau
• Central India
• Belang Valley

2. Middle Paleolithic
The Middle Paleolithic was part of the Upper Paleolithic when humans started making pointy and sharp tools such as flakes, blades and pointers. They used special tools to kill small animals, and also hunted and tore the flesh of dead animals.
The main sites where Middle Paleolithic evidence has been dated are:

• Belang Valley (UP)
• Luni Valley (Rajasthan)
• Bimbetka
• Song River and Narmada River
• Postwar Plateau
• Songhai Cave

3. Upper Paleolithic
Around the last phase of the ice age when the climate became relatively warm. Around this time, Homo sapiens appeared. At the same time, many bone tools such as needles, fishing tools, and drilling tools were also innovated. One of the most important Paleolithic sites where hatchets, knives and scrapers were found was Bimbetka (south of Bhopal). Major sites:

• Belan
• Son
• Chota Nagpur Plateau
• Orissa
• Maharashtra
• Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh

The Mesolithic Age

A large part of the cage is also known as the Mesolithic, and much evidence of hunting and fishing gear has been found. The Mesolithic period dates back to 8000 BC. Microliths (small tools made of cryptocrystalline silicon dioxide) were discovered by 4000 BC. These Mesolithic peoples believed in an afterlife and even began semi-permanent settlements. The clothes worn by people during this period were made of animal skins. The most important Mesolithic sites are:

• Rajasthan(Bogor)
• Azamgarh
• Langhnaj(Gujarat)
• Mirzapur (UP)

The Neolithic Age

The Neolithic Age, also called the Neolithic Age, witnessed the growth of agriculture and pottery. The Neolithic period dates back to 4000 BC. At the same time, until 2500 BC, the Neolithic period marked the beginning of civilization with human-built circular houses. This age marked the end of Stone Age The most important Neolithic sites are:

• Koldihwa and Mahagara(Allahabad)
• Mehrgarh(Balochistan, Pakistan)
• Burzahom(Kashmir)
• Chitand(Bihar)
• Belan

The Chalcolithic Age(The Copper Age)

The Chalcolithic was also known as the Chalcolithic because of the use of metals such as bronze and copper during this period. This date is from 1800 BC. To 2500 BC The Golden Stone Age is also known as the Pre-Harappan period when cattle herding and rural settlement began. Parallel to this was the growth of arts and crafts, including both coppersmiths and stonemasons. The Chalcolithic Age saw high infant mortality rates along with burial sites, evidence found by archaeologists in Maharashtra. Clay goddesses and jewels made of copper and bone have also been found. The most important Chalcolithic sites are:

• Giland(Rajasthan)
• Malwa(MP)
• Nevada
• Songhai
• Kayatha
• Ahar (Rajasthan)

The Iron Age

The 19th century Iron Age ended the Bronze Age. Many weapons were made during this period. The Iron Age lasted from 1500 to 600 BC. The Iron Age witnessed the coming of the Aryan and Vedic epochs along with Buddhism and Jainism. People also witnessed the re-urbanization of the Indus valley civilization and the Ganges Valley civilization split between 16 major factions known as the Mahajana Padas.

Conclusion

The most important Iron Age sites have been found in what is now northern India. These were the prehistoric times of India.