Concept Notes 1: Prehistoric Stages: Paleolithic, Mesolithic & Neolithic Revolutions
1. Chronological Spectrum of Prehistory
Prehistoric archaeology divides early human history based on tool-making material, technique, and subsistence strategies:
[ PALEOLITHIC AGE ] --> Lower, Middle, Upper (2.5 million - 10,000 BCE): Hunting, gathering, handaxes, rock shelters (Bhimbetka).
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[ MESOLITHIC AGE ] --> (10,000 - 7,000 BCE): Microliths (small sharp blades), bows & arrows, early animal domestication.
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[ NEOLITHIC AGE ] --> (7,000 - 3,000 BCE): Agriculture, settled villages, polished tools, pottery, weaving (Mehrgarh, Burzahom).
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[ CHALCOLITHIC & BRONZE]--> (3,000 - 1,500 BCE): Copper + Tin = Bronze metallurgy, wheel, urban civilisation (Harappa, Mohenjo-daro).
2. Prehistoric Lithic Epochs Comparison
| Attribute | Paleolithic (Old Stone) | Mesolithic (Middle Stone) | Neolithic (New Stone) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tool Technology | Large core handaxes, choppers, flake tools of quartzite. | Microliths (1–5 cm stone blades) hafted into wood/bone handles. | Finely ground and polished stone axes with razor-sharp edges. |
| Subsistence | Nomadic hunting of wild beasts and foraging wild plants. | Specialized hunting, fishing, gathering, early animal taming. | Settled agriculture (wheat, barley) and pastoral husbandry (cattle). |
| Dwelling Type | Natural caves and rock overhangs (Bhimbetka). | Temporary huts, semi-permanent camps near water bodies. | Permanent mud and reed rectangular/circular houses (Mehrgarh). |
| Key Indian Sites | Bhimbetka (MP), Hunsgi (Karnataka), Attirampakkam (TN). | Bagor (Rajasthan), Adamgarh (MP), Sarai Nahar Rai (UP). | Mehrgarh (Balochistan), Burzahom (Kashmir), Chirand (Bihar). |
3. The Neolithic Transition at Mehrgarh
Excavations at Mehrgarh (Kachi plain, Balochistan, Pakistan) prove that settled agrarian life began around 7000 BCE:
- Cultivation of six-row barley, emmer and einkorn wheat, and jujube.
- Domestication of sheep, goats, and zebu humped cattle.
- Multi-roomed mud-brick houses with compartmentalized granary storage.
- Pit burials accompanied by grave goods (beads, goats, copper trinkets), showing belief in life after death.