Ancient History: Prehistoric Period
Ancient History: Prehistoric Period
What is the Prehistoric Period?
The prehistoric period is when humans started using stone tools. This helped them survive.
- The first fossil found in India was the Narmada Man.
- This fossil was found in 1982 by the Narmada River.
- Prehistory is divided into the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.
Stone Age
The Stone Age is divided into three parts. These are Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.
- Paleolithic Age: The longest period. People hunted and gathered food.
- Mesolithic Age: Smaller and sharper tools called microliths were used.
- Neolithic Age: People began farming and taking care of animals.
Paleolithic Age
The Paleolithic Age is the first part of the Stone Age. This is when people made stone tools.
- The word “Paleolithic” means “old stone.”
- The term Paleolithic was coined by archaeologist John Lubbock in 1865.
- The first Paleolithic site in India was in Karnataka. (Lingsugur in Raichur district, Karnataka)
- The tools they used were hand axes, cleavers, and flakes.
- Lower Paleolithic age tools – Hand axe and cleaver.
- Middle Paleolithic age tools – Flakes.
- Upper Paleolithic tools – Flakes and blades.
Mesolithic Age
The Mesolithic Age came after the Paleolithic Age. The tools got smaller and better.
- The tools were called microliths. They were tiny and sharp.
- Microliths were tiny, only 1 to 5 centimeters long.
- People used them to make arrowheads, knives, and spears.
- They also began growing plants and keeping animals like sheep and goats.
Early Agriculture
During the Mesolithic Age, people started growing food. They grew wheat and barley.
- People near Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan grew plants.
- Mehrgarh in Pakistan was an early farming site.
- They also domesticated animals like dogs, cattle, sheep, and goats.
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