Prehistoric Cultures - Neolithic Age

   


Prehistoric Cultures - Neolithic Age

7000 - 1000 BC onwards); (Neo — New)

  • The main feature of neolithic age is man moved from food hunting to food production. A British archeologist 'Gordon Childe' describes this age as food producing self sufficient economy.
  • Scholars calculated or divided this age based on the agriculture and domestication. The period in which both these activities were in full-fledged manner scholars observed that period as neolithic period and this is not uniform in all areas. In different areas at the different time, this period has started.
  • In the North West regions of India, neolithic features were found in 7000 BC and in Assam region these features found during 1000 BC (Indus valley civilization ended and Aryan started by this time).
  • There is no dearth of neolithic sites in India. First Neolithic site in Indian sub-continent is Mehrgarh, Pakistan dated 7000 BC - First agricultural practice took place in India and first to grow Wheat and Barley in Indian sub-continent. Grapes were also grown by them. Pottery wheel was first found in India at Mehrgarh, it means people of Mehrgarh were first to make wheel pottery in India. People of this place were first in World to grow Cotton(5000BC).
  • Another Site Koldihwa, Belan valley, updated 5000 BC - First people in the world to grow Paddy. Both sown and wild varieties were excavated at this site by the archeologists. 
  • The third site Burzahom Kashmir (near Srinagar) dated 2500 BC. These people constructed houses in pit-dwelling. There is connectivity between each house through- a tunnel. All staircases, walls are plastered with mud. People of this place have good commercial relations with people of Indus valley civilization. Pottery was being imported by these and timber was exported to Indus valley. Though having such relations people of Burzahom didn't adopt the culture of Indus valley which is very advanced.
  • Chirand, Bihar (near Patna) dated 1600 BC. Apart from stone tools, a large number of bone tools was excavated here. This includes a bone needle which indicates some sort of stitching activity was being carried out here.
  • South Indian Neolithic sites were circa 2000 BC. Sites found at various places like                            - In Andhra Pradesh - Nagarjunakonda, Utnur (Mahabobnagar district)                                        - InTamilnadu - Piyampalli                                                                                                              - In Karnataka - Maski(Raichur region), Brahinagiri, Piklihal, Kodekal, Tekkelakota.
  • In Tekkelakota excavations apart from stone tools, some gold pieces were also found. These people export gold to Indus valley people and had good commercial relations with them.
  • Neolithic sites of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh archeologists excavated 'Ash mounds'. Huge heaps of cow dung was burned once in awhile which resulted in these ash mounds. This indicates domestication was carried on a full scale in these areas. Sites were ash mound found were Piklihai, Kupgal, Kodekal all three belonging to Karnataka region and Utnur in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Neolithic people of South India majorly grown horse gram and ragi.
  • In North Eastern states neolithic age started only after 1000 BC. This is major due to climatic and geographical conditions of this area. Thick forests and continuous rains in this area are not conducive for cultivation. Some neolithic sites were found in Garo hills they were Meharland and Daojali Hading.
  • An important and prominent feature of Neolithic age is it was a mixed economy. Both agrarian and pastoral practices were carried out in a supplement to each other rather than substitutes. In North India cereals like Wheat, Barley and rice were grown and in South India ragi and Horse gram was grown.
  •  Cultivation practiced by them is known as shifting cultivation or slash and burn cultivation. As the man was able to produce enough food for his sustenance he abandoned  nomadic life and started sedentary life. Village communities have started. He began to experience social life and societies were slowly growing up. Eventually, in this process disputes have started which led to the emergence of some sort of leadership to redress the clashes, Lands doesn't belong to individual they were looked after/ held by a community whereas cattle belong individuals. Scholars consider this  period  of primitive communism.
  • Tool making technology has undergone a revolutionary change. Though tools they were made out of stone. Some sort of religious beliefs were among the people. 
  • At various neolithic, sites large number of grave goods were found indicating these people  believed in life after death. At few places, Terracotta serpents and Mother Goddess  figurines were found indicating their worship of snakes and goddess.
  • Scholars consider all these changes as revolutionary changes and this period itself revolutionary period.