Neolithic Age(Early History) Flashcards
When did the Neolithic Age begin?
Around 10,000 BC
What marked the beginning of the Neolithic Age?
The development of agriculture and animal domestication
Where are early evidences of Neolithic culture found?
Fertile regions like Egypt, Mesopotamia, Indus Valley, Ganges Valley, and China
What does the term “Neolithic Revolution” refer to?
The transition from food gathering to food production, leading to the rise of civilizations
What resulted from surplus food production during the Neolithic Revolution?
The formation of large villages, development of pottery, and building of permanent residences
What are some characteristic tools of the Neolithic Age?
Polished stone tools, stone axes, and microlith blades
How did the Neolithic Revolution change the way humans lived?
It shifted them from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled farming communities, laying the foundation for more complex societies and technological advancements.
Where in India do we find the earliest evidence of plant and animal domestication? Northwest India
North-western India, in sites like Mehrgarh, Rana Ghundai, Sarai Kala, and Jalilpur (now in Pakistan).
How old is the Neolithic culture at Mehrgarh?
Dating back to 7000 BC, predating the Indus Valley Civilization.
What crops and animals were cultivated and domesticated in the 1st phase of Mehrgarh (7000-5500 BC)?
Crops: six-row barley, emmer wheat, einkorn wheat, jujube, ilanthai, dates. Animals: sheep, goats, cattle.
Note: They did not use pottery during this phase.
Describe the lifestyle of the 1st phase Mehrgarh people.
Semi-nomadic and pastoral, building mud houses, burying their dead, and using ornaments made of sea shells, limestone, turquoise, lapis lazuli, and sandstone.
What evidence suggests long-distance trade in the 2nd and 3rd phases of Mehrgarh (5500-4800 BC and 4800-3500 BC)?
The presence of Lapis Lazuli, found only in Badakshan, far from Mehrgarh.
What other advancements were made during the 2nd and 3rd phases of Mehrgarh?
Introduction of pottery, discovery of terracotta figurines and glazed faience beads.
What is the significance of the drilled human tooth found at Mehrgarh?
This is the earliest evidence of dentistry, showing attempts to treat dental problems caused by dietary changes.
How did the development of agriculture and animal domestication impact the Neolithic people of Mehrgarh?
It led to a shift from semi-nomadic life to settled communities, long-distance trade, technological advancements, and changes in diet and health practices.
In which important site of Kashmir Valley can we find evidence for the Megalithic and Early Historic Periods?
Burzahom (image of Burzahom excavation site)
How did the Neolithic people of Kashmir adapt to the cold weather?
They lived in pit dwellings, which were oval-shaped houses wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. (image of Burzahom pit dwelling reconstruction)
What tools and materials did the Neolithic people of Kashmir use?
They used bone and stone tools, erected menhirs (standing stones), and made redware pottery and metal objects (including copper arrowheads).
What economic activities did the Neolithic people of Kashmir engage in?
They practiced agriculture, domesticating animals (image of Neolithic tools and crops) and trading with neighboring regions.
What evidence suggests contact with other cultures like Central Asia? Valley of Kashmir
The discovery of lentil seeds at Burzahom, a crop common in Central Asia.
How do archaeologists differentiate between two phases of the Neolithic culture in Kashmir?
The aceramic phase lacks evidence of pottery, while the ceramic phase shows the use of both redware and blackware pottery (image of redware and blackware pottery).
What unique objects have been found at Burzahom?
A burial site containing wild dog bones and an antler horn, and a stone engraving depicting a hunting scene with a dog and the sun. (image of Burzahom engraving)
How did the Neolithic culture in Kashmir shape the region’s future development?
By introducing agriculture, trade networks, and cultural practices, the Neolithic people laid the foundation for later civilizations in the region.
Where are some major Neolithic sites found in the Ganges Valley and Central India?
Uttar Pradesh (Lehuradeva, Chopani Munda, Koldihwa, Mahagara) and Bihar (Chirand, Senuwar)
What’s the significance of Lehuradeva (Uttar Pradesh)?
It provides early evidence of rice cultivation in India, dating back to 6500 BC. (Image of Lehuradeva excavation site)
What are some common characteristics of these Neolithic sites? Ganges Valley and Central India
Evidence of pottery, plant and animal domestication, and the use of cord-marked pottery. (Image of cord-marked pottery)
What crops were cultivated by the Neolithic people in this region? Ganges Valley and Central India
Hulled and six-rowed barley, wheat, rice, pea, green gram, gram/chicken pea, mustard, flax/linseed, and jackfruit.
Which animals were domesticated by the Neolithic people? Ganges Valley and Central India
Sheep, goat, and cattle, alongside hunting of wild animals. (Image of Neolithic farming tools and crops)
How did the development of agriculture and animal domestication impact these communities? Ganges Valley and Central India
It likely led to the establishment of settled villages, increased food production, and the development of more complex social structures and cultural practices.
What other cultural artifacts have been found at these sites? Ganges Valley and Central India
Bone and stone tools, beads, and ornaments made from various materials. (Image of Neolithic bone and stone tools)
How did the Neolithic culture in the Ganges Valley and Central India contribute to the region’s future development?
By laying the foundation for agriculture, animal husbandry, and settled communities, the Neolithic people paved the way for the development of later civilizations in the region.
Where are the main Neolithic sites found in East India?
Scattered across the states of Bihar and West Bengal. (Map of East India highlighting Bihar and West Bengal)
Name some important Neolithic sites in East India.
Birbhanpur, Chirand, Kuchai, Golbaisasan, and Sankarjang. (Images of these sites if available)
What types of tools have been found at these sites? East India
Distinctive stone tools like pointed-butt celts, chisels, and shouldered axes. (Images of East Indian Neolithic tools)
How do these tools differ from those found in other Neolithic regions of India? East India
The pointed-butt celts and shouldered axes are unique to East India, suggesting possible cultural differences or specializations in tool usage.
Where are the major Neolithic sites found in South India?
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and the northwestern part of Tamil Nadu. (Map of South India highlighting mentioned states)
What types of tools did the South Indian Neolithic people use?
Stone axes and blades. (Image of Neolithic stone axe and blade)
What unique finds suggest cattle keeping in these cultures? South India
Fire-baked earthen figurines of cattle. (Image of Neolithic cattle figurine)
What is the significance of ash mounds found in these sites? South India
They are central mounds surrounded by settlements and may have served as ritualistic or cultural markers. (Image of Neolithic ash mound site)
Where are these sites typically located? South India
Near granite hills with water sources and in the river valleys of Godavari, Krishna, Pennaru, Tungabhadra, and Kaveri. (Map of South India highlighting rivers and hills)
Give examples of major Neolithic sites in each state. South India
Karnataka: Sanganakallu, Tekkalakota, Brahmagiri, Maski, Piklihal, Watkal, Hemmige, and Hallur. (Images of these sites if available)
Andhra Pradesh: Nagarjunakonda, Ramapuram, and Veerapuram. (Images of these sites if available)
Tamil Nadu: Paiyyampalli. (Image of Paiyyampalli site if available)
How did the environment and location of these sites influence the lives of the South Indian Neolithic people?
The proximity to water sources and fertile river valleys supported agriculture and settlements, while the granite hills may have provided resources for tool making and shelter.
When did the Neolithic culture flourish in North East India?
From 2500-1500 BC. (Image of timeline representing the period)
What types of tools characterize these communities? North East India
Shouldered axes and splayed celts, found in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. (Images of shouldered axes and splayed celts)
Name some important Neolithic sites in the region. North East India
Daojali Hading and Sarutaru, both demonstrating evidence for shifting cultivation practices. (Images of Daojali Hading and Sarutaru excavations)
What crops did these Neolithic people cultivate? North East India
Yams and taro, alongside other indigenous crops adapted to the region’s environment.
Describe some unique cultural practices observed in these sites. North East India
Building stone and wooden memorials, suggesting ritualistic or commemorative significance. (Images of Neolithic stone and wooden memorials)
How did the geography and environment of North East India influence the Neolithic culture there?
The hilly terrain and monsoonal climate likely led to the development of shifting cultivation practices, while the abundance of natural resources supported tool-making and unique traditions.
Where is evidence of rice cultivation found in the 6th millennium BC?
Northern Vindhya spurs, Mirzapur, Allahabad, and Balochistan.
What does this suggest about the time period?
The presence of rice cultivation implies an advanced stage of agriculture in this region during the 6th millennium BC.
How did the lives of later Neolithic settlers in the Vindhya region differ from earlier inhabitants?
They transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled one, living in circular or rectangular mud and reed houses.
What crops did the Neolithic settlers cultivate?
Ragi and horse gram (kulathi) were among the agricultural produce found.
How did pottery production evolve over time?
Initially, they used hand-made pottery, later adopting foot wheels to create more refined pots.
What is significant about the Belan Valley archaeological site?
It reveals a remarkable sequence of human habitation, showcasing all three phases of the Palaeolithic, followed by the Mesolithic and Neolithic phases.
How did the environment and resources of the Vindhya region likely influence the development of agriculture and settled communities?
The fertile land and access to water resources may have created favorable conditions for agriculture, leading to the emergence of permanent settlements and more complex societies.
