GS Ancient History : Paleolithic Age, Mesolithic Age

GS Ancient History : Paleolithic Age


Our planet Earth is almost 4 billion years old. Its crust has evolved through four stages, the latest being the Quaternary. The Quaternary period is further divided into Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. Man is thought to have appeared on the Earth during the early Pleistocene.

In India first human occupations appeared in middle Pleistocene around 5, 00,000 BC. The earliest cultural phase of the humans is known as Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age).

The Paleolithic Age in India is broadly divided into three phases based on the nature of stone tools used by the people of that era-

1.    Lower Paleolithic (5,00,000 BC – 50,000 BC)
2.    Middle Paleolithic(50,000BC- 40,000 BC)
3.    Upper Paleolithic( 40,000 BC- 10,000 BC)

Lower Paleolithic or Early Stone Age is characterized by use of hand-axes, cleavers and choppers which were used mainly for chopping, digging and skinning. Lower Paleolithic tools have been found at various sites such as Soan Valley, Punjab( Now in Pakistan); Belan Valley, Uttar Pradesh; Didwana, Rajasthan; Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh and other places.

The principal tools of Middle Paleolithic Age are blades, points, borers and scrapers. These are based on flakes. The Middle Paleolithic Age tools have been excavated from various sites in India and show regional variations. Important Middle Paleolithic sites can be found in Narmada valley, Son valley, Luni in Rajasthan, Nevasa in Maharashtra and other places.

The Upper Paleolithic phase was less humid and comparatively warmer. It is marked by the appearance of men of modern type (Homo sapiens). In India, this phase is characterized by the use of blades and burins. This phase is also characterized by increasing use of bone tools. These tools have been found in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.  Humans started to use caves and rock shelters during this phase. Such caves have been discovered at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh.


Paleolithic sites are found near hilly slopes and river valleys and are absent in the alluvial plains of the Indus and the Ganga. This is probably because of the availability of stones for tool making and water.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 GS Ancient History : Mesolithic Age::


An intermediate stage began in Stone Age culture around 9000 BC known as Mesolithic Age.  Mesolithic Age was an intermediary stage when people started to change from hunter-gatherers to food producers. It gave way to a more advanced and technologically improved phase of culture known as Neolithic Age or the New Stone Age.

Climate
The climate in this phase had become warm and dry. Change in climate brought about changes in tool traditions, food habits and living style.

Subsistence
People lived on hunting, fishing and food gathering. They also domesticated animals in later stage of this phase.

Tools
The principal tools used by Mesolithic people are microliths. Microlithic tools include blades, points, triangles and trapezes, harpoons, arrowheads, spearheads, etc. These tools were small and were often used as composite tools by hafting in woods and bones. These small tools were better suited to hunt smaller animals, birds and fishes. Smaller animals, birds and fishes were more abundant in the changed environment.
Important Archaeological Sites
Important Mesolithic sites in India are Bagor in Rajasthan, Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh, Langhnaj in Gujarat, Sarai Nahar Rai in Uttar Pradesh, Mayurbhanj in Orissa, Godavari Basin, etc.

Prehistoric Art
Paleolithic and Mesolithic people are also known for their art. They practiced rock paintings. A number of caves and rock shelters have been discovered having paintings of birds, animals, human beings, hunting scenes. Most of these are associated with Mesolithic Age. Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, an important Mesolithic site, has more than 500 painted rock shelters.