From Hunting-Gathering to Growing Food

People who lived in the subcontinent 2 million years ago. They hunted wild animals, caught fish and birds, gathered fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, leaves, stalks and eggs.

If they stayed in one place for long, they would have eaten up all the available plant and animal resources.

Animals move from place to place in search of grass and leaves or smaller prey. Hunters had to follow their movements.

Plants and trees bear fruit in different seasons. So, people may have moved seasonally in search of different kinds of plants.

People, plants and animals need water to survive. Water is found in lakes, streams and rivers. Many rivers are perennial (with water throughout the year) while others are seasonal. People living on their banks would have had to go in search of water during dry seasons.

Archaeologists have found some of the things hunter-gatherers made and used. These are tools of stone, wood and bone.

Some were used to cut meat and bone, scrape bark (from trees) and hides (animal skins), chop fruit and roots. Some were attached to handles of bone or wood to make spears and arrows for hunting.

Places where stone was found and where people made tools are known as factory sites.

Sometimes, people lived in factory sites for a longer spell of time. These sites are called habitation-cum-factory sites.

Bhimbetka (in present-day Madhya Pradesh) is an old site with caves and rock shelters. People chose these natural caves because they provided shelter from the rain, heat and wind.

Traces of ash have been found here. This suggests that people were familiar with the use of fire.

It could be used as a source of light, to roast meat, and to scare away animals.

There were major changes in the climate of the world, with a shift to relatively warm conditions. This led to the development of grasslands in many areas.

People saw that gentle animals could be tamed. The first animal to be tamed was the wild ancestor of the dog. Later, people encouraged animals that were relatively gentle to come near the camps where they lived (sheep, goat, cattle, pig).

It is the name given to the process in which people grow plants and look after animals. It began about 12,000 years ago.

Traces of huts or houses. For example, in Burzahom (Kashmir) people built pit-houses, which were dug into the ground, with steps leading into them.

Tools that were polished to give a fine cutting edge, and mortars and pestles used for grinding grain and other plant produce.

Earthen pots were found, sometimes decorated, and used for storing things and cooking food (rice, wheat, lentils).

Mehrgarh is located in a fertile plain near the Bolan Pass. It is one of the earliest villages that we know about. People learnt to grow barley and wheat, and rear sheep and goats here.

The dead person was buried with goats, which were probably meant to serve as food in the next world.

Hunter-gatherers lived 2 million years ago.

They possessed immense knowledge of plants and animals.

They were always on the move.

Tools were made of stone, wood, and bone.

Stone tools have survived the best.

Palaeolithic means 'Old Stone' age.

Palaeolithic period covers 99% of human history.

It is divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper Palaeolithic.

Mesolithic period began 12,000 years ago.

Mesolithic is called the Middle Stone Age.

Stone tools in Mesolithic are called Microliths.

Microliths were tiny stone tools stuck on handles.

Ostriches were found in India during the Palaeolithic period.

Large quantities of ostrich egg shells were found at Patne (Maharashtra).

Neolithic period began about 10,000 years ago.

Rock paintings show wild animals drawn with great accuracy.

Hunsgi is a site where limestone tools were made.

Farming led to a settled life.

People had to stay in one place to look after plants.

Grain was stored in large clay pots or woven baskets.

Grain was also stored in underground pits.

Animals were 'storehouses' of food (milk, meat).

Daojali Hading is a site on the hills near the Brahmaputra valley.

Stone tools like mortars and pestles were found at Daojali Hading.

Jadeite, a stone potentially from China, was found at Daojali Hading.

Fossil wood (ancient wood that hardened into stone) was used for tools.

Tribes usually have a leader who may be old and experienced.

Tribes have distinct occupations like hunting or gathering.

Tribal members are related by kinship.

Mehrgarh houses had four or more compartments.

Mehrgarh houses were square or rectangular.

At Mehrgarh, bone tools were also used.

Burial sites show belief in life after death.

Cotton was grown at Mehrgarh about 7000 years ago.

The first animal tamed was the dog's ancestor.

Sheep and goats were the earliest domesticated animals.

Wheat and Barley were the earliest crops.

Changes in climate led to increase in deer, antelope, goat, sheep.

Fishing became important during the warm climate shift.

Early people painted on the walls of caves.

Bhimbetka sites are in Madhya Pradesh.

Kurnool caves are in Andhra Pradesh.

Hunsgi is in Karnataka.

Chirand is a site in Bihar.

Koldihwa is in Uttar Pradesh (Rice fragments).

Mahagara is in Uttar Pradesh.

Hallur is in Karnataka (Millet).

Paiyampalli is in Tamil Nadu (Black gram).

Gufkral is in Kashmir (Wheat and lentil).

Archaeology helps us reconstruct the past.

Start of Palaeolithic Age

Start of Mesolithic Age / Domestication begins

Start of Neolithic Age

Settlement at Mehrgarh begins

Discovery of Indus Valley Civilization (Harappa)