Chapter - 4
The Stone Age – The Earliest People
Who were the Earliest People?
- The earliest humans lived millions of years ago.
- They are known as hunter-gatherers.
- They depended on nature for food (hunting animals and gathering fruits, roots, seeds).
- They lived in caves, rock shelters, or under trees.
- They had no permanent homes and moved from place to place (nomadic life).
Features of Early Humans
- Use of Stone Tools – For cutting, hunting, and protection
- Discovery of Fire – Used for cooking, warmth, and safety
- Group Living – For protection from wild animals
- No Farming – They did not grow crops initially
- Simple Life – No writing, no permanent houses
Division of the Stone Age
The Stone Age is divided into three main periods:
1. Palaeolithic Age (Old Stone Age)
- Time: About 2 million years ago to 10,000 BCE
- People used rough, unpolished stone tools
- Lived in caves and were completely dependent on nature
- Main activities: Hunting and gathering
- Discovery of fire
- Example sites: Bhimbetka (India)
2. Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age)
- Time: About 10,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE
- Tools became smaller and sharper (microliths)
- Began domesticating animals
- Started settling near rivers and lakes
- Still depended partly on hunting and gathering
3.Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)
- Time: About 8,000 BCE to 4,000 BCE
- Beginning of agriculture (farming)
- People started living in permanent settlements
- Tools became smooth and polished
- Development of pottery and wheel
The Palaeolithic Period (Old Stone Age)
The Palaeolithic Period is the earliest phase of human history, when humans mainly depended on hunting and gathering and used stone tools.
- Time: About 2 million years ago to 10,000 BCE
- People lived a nomadic life (moved from place to place)
- No farming or permanent houses
Division of the Palaeolithic Period:- It is divided into three stages:
1.Lower Palaeolithic Period
- Time: About 2 million – 300,000 years ago
- Tools were large, heavy, and rough
- Made by breaking stones (hand axes, choppers)
- Humans had very basic survival skills
- Lived in caves or open areas
- Depended fully on hunting and gathering
- Early use of fire (in later part)
2.Middle Palaeolithic Period
- Time: About 300,000 – 40,000 years ago
- Tools became smaller, sharper, and more efficient
- Made using flakes (small pieces of stone)
- Better hunting techniques
- Group living became stronger
- Use of fire became more common
3.Upper Palaeolithic Period
- Time: About 40,000 – 10,000 years ago
- Tools became more refined and specialized
- Made of stone, bone, and wood
- Development of art (cave paintings)
- Better shelters
- Improved hunting with advanced tools
Use of Tools Palaeolithic Period
- Hand axes – For cutting and hunting
- Choppers – For breaking bones and wood
- Scrapers – For cleaning animal skins
- Spears and blades – For hunting animals
- Bone tools (later stage) – Needles, hooks
Mesolithic Period (Middle Stone Age)
- The word is derived from the Greek "mikros" (small) and "lithos" (stone), literally meaning "small stone
- Time: Around 10,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE (in India sometimes up to 4,000 BCE)
- It is the transitional phase between the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods.
- Humans began to adapt to changing climate after the Ice Age.
Features of Mesolithic Period
- Use of Microliths
- Tools were small, sharp, and made of stone
- Used for hunting, cutting, and scraping
- Hunting and Gathering Continued
- But hunting became more efficient
- Fishing also started
- Domestication of Animals
- Early domestication of animals like dogs
- Semi-Nomadic Life
- People started living for longer periods at one place
- Settlements near rivers and lakes
- Beginning of Art
- Rock paintings showing hunting scenes and daily life
Important Mesolithic Sites in India:-
1.Tiwara (or Tilwara)
- Location: Tilwara (Westernmost site)
- It has two phases:- First phase ismesolithic and is characterised by the presence of Microliths(small polished stones). The Second phase yielded wheel made pottery of iron,glass beads etc.
- Situated near the Luni River
- Evidence of microlithic tools
- Shows early human settlement in desert region
2.Bagor
- Location: Bhilwara district of Eastern Rajasthan near Kothari river.
- one of the best documented microlithic sites.
- Three ocupational level (Mesolithic, Chalcolithic & evidence of iron.)
- One of the largest Mesolithic sites in India
- House floors paved with stone slabs were found.
- important discoveries include ring stones and rubbing stones.
- Geometric Shapes: Many were deliberately shaped into standardized geometric forms, including triangles, trapezoids, and lunates (crescents).
3.Langhnaj
- Location: located in the Mehsana district of Gujarat, is one of the most extensively studied Mesolithic sites in India
- Human skeletons found.
- Archaeologists discovered 14 human skeletons buried within the habitation area.
- Evidence of hunting and gathering.
- Symbiotic relationship with Harappan urban culture found.
The Neolithic Period (New Stone Age)
- The final stage of cultural and technological development among prehistoric humans.
- Learn to make more polished tools sickles and axes.
- Adoption of agriculture.
- Move to larger settlements and realised importance of domestic animals.
- The use them for transportion and milk and meat.
- It is famously defined by the Neolithic Revolution.
Development of Agriculture
- Began in the Neolithic Period (New Stone Age)
- Agricultre was first practised by the people of the near East (Modern Iran, Iraq, Turkey)
- Early humans learned to grow crops instead of only hunting and gathering
- Main crops: wheat, barley, rice
- Sites of Neolithic:- Mehrgarh in Pakistan, Koldiwha and MAhagara in Uttar Pardesh, Gufkral and Burzahom in Kashmr, Hallur in Karnataka and Paiyampalli in Tamil Nadu.
- People started living in permanent settlements near rivers
Domestication of Animals
- Humans started taming animals for their use
- Early domesticated animals: dog, sheep, goat, cattle
Uses:
- Food (milk, meat)
- Farming (ploughing fields)
- Transport
- Protection
Importance:
- Made life easier and more secure
- Supported agriculture and economy
Pottery
- Developed in the Neolithic Age
- Early humans made pots using clay
Uses:
- Storing food and water
- Cooking food
- Protecting grains from moisture
Importance:
- Helped in food storage
- Led to development of crafts and skills
Invention of Wheel
- One of the greatest inventions of early humans
- First used in pottery (potter’s wheel) and later in transport
Uses:
- Making pots
- Transport (carts)
- Trade and movement of goods
Importance:
- Made transport faster and easier
- Helped in trade and communication
- Led to development of civilization
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