Stone Age

1. Paleolithic

1.1 Origin

• Time Period: ~2.5 million years ago to ~10,000 BCE
• Geographical Spread: Africa → Europe → Asia → Australia
• Key Sites: Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania), Zhoukoudian (China), Kurnool caves (India)

1.2 Survival

• Hunting and Gathering: Primary subsistence strategy
• Seasonal Migration: Followed animal herds and seasonal food sources
• Tool Use: Choppers, hand axes, scrapers, and later more sophisticated tools

1.3 Characteristics

• Stone Tools: Made from flint, chert, and other local materials
• Fire Use: Controlled use of fire for warmth, cooking, and protection
• Art and Symbolism: Cave paintings, carvings, and symbolic artifacts (e.g., Venus figurines)
• Social Structure: Small, mobile groups with cooperative hunting and sharing

1.4 Lower Paleolithic (Oldowan)

• Time Period: ~2.5 million to 1.5 million years ago
• Tools: Simple, unifacial choppers and hand axes
• Cultural Traits: Basic tool-making techniques, no evidence of symbolic behavior
• Key Sites: Olduvai Gorge, Ubeidiya (Israel), Bhimbetka (India)

1.5 Middle Paleolithic (Acheulean)

• Time Period: ~1.5 million to 300,000 years ago
• Tools: Bifacial hand axes, scrapers, and points
• Cultural Traits: More complex tool-making, evidence of symbolic behavior
• Key Sites: Atapuerca (Spain), Klasies River (South Africa), Bhimbetka (India)

1.6 Upper Paleolithic (Mousterian)

• Time Period: ~300,000 to 10,000 BCE
• Tools: Microliths, blades, and composite tools
• Cultural Traits: Advanced art, music, and symbolic behavior; cave paintings, engravings, and portable art
• Key Sites: Lascaux (France), Altamira (Spain), Bhimbetka (India)

1.7 Paleolithic Sites of India

2. Mesolithic

2.1 Origin

• Time Period: ~10,000–4,000 BCE
• Geographical Spread: Post-Pleistocene climate change; transition from Paleolithic to Neolithic
• Key Sites: Jericho (Palestine), Skhul (Israel), Bhimbetka (India)

2.2 Survival

• Adaptation to Climate Change: Shift from nomadic to semi-sedentary life
• Use of Forest Resources: Increased use of forests for food and materials
• Tool Use: Microliths, bows, and fishing implements

2.3 Characteristics

• Stone Tools: Microliths, arrowheads, and fishing tools
• Dietary Shift: More reliance on fish, shellfish, and plant foods
• Social Complexity: Emergence of more complex social structures and trade

2.4 Mesolithic Sites of India

3. Neolithic

3.1 Origin

• Time Period: ~10,000–3,000 BCE
• Geographical Spread: Fertile river valleys (Tigris, Euphrates, Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra)
• Key Sites: Jericho (Palestine), Çatalhöyük (Turkey), Mehrgarh (Pakistan), Mehrgarh (Pakistan)

3.2 Survival

• Agriculture: Domestication of plants (wheat, barley) and animals (goats, sheep)
• Settlement: Emergence of permanent settlements and village life
• Tool Use: Ground stone tools, pottery, and early metallurgy

3.3 Characteristics

• Agriculture: Shift from foraging to farming
• Domestication: Animals and plants were domesticated for food and labor
• Pottery: Development of pottery for storage and cooking
• Social Organization: Emergence of social stratification and communal living

3.4 Neolithic Sites of India

4. Chalcolithic and Megalith Culture of India

4.1 Chalcolithic

• Time Period: ~3000–1000 BCE
• Geographical Spread: Mainly in the Indo-Gangetic plains and Deccan plateau
• Key Sites: Chalcolithic sites in the Deccan, such as Inamgaon, Navdatoli, and Bhimbetka

4.2 Characteristics

• Copper Use: Introduction of copper tools and ornaments
• Agriculture: Continued use of agriculture, with increased crop diversity
• Pottery: Development of black and red pottery
• Social Complexity: Emergence of social stratification and trade networks

4.3 Neolithic to Chalcolithic Transition

• Agricultural Base: Continued reliance on agriculture
• Metal Use: Introduction of copper and bronze
• Settlement Patterns: More permanent settlements with complex social structures

4.4 Megalith Culture

• Time Period: ~1000 BCE–500 CE
• Geographical Spread: South India, especially Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka
• Key Sites: Adamas (Tamil Nadu), Maski (Maharashtra), Brahmagiri (Karnataka)

4.5 Characteristics

• Megaliths: Large stone structures (menhirs, dolmens, cairns) used for burial or ritual purposes
• Ceremonial Use: Used in burial practices and ritualistic ceremonies
• Cultural Diversity: Reflects regional variations in burial practices and social structures
• Agriculture: Continued use of agriculture with increased land use

4.6 Megalithic Sites of India

5. Key Facts for Competitive Exams (SSC, RRB)

• Paleolithic: Earliest known human culture; characterized by stone tools and hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
• Mesolithic: Transitional period; marked by the shift to agriculture and the use of microliths.
• Neolithic: Age of agriculture; marked by domestication of plants and animals, and the rise of permanent settlements.
• Chalcolithic: Age of copper; transition from Neolithic to Bronze Age.
• Megalith Culture: Characterized by large stone structures used for burial and ritual purposes; prevalent in South India.
• Key Sites: Bhimbetka, Mehrgarh, Burzahom, Adamas, Brahmagiri.
• Important Dates: Paleolithic (2.5 million–10,000 BCE), Mesolithic (10,000–4,000 BCE), Neolithic (10,000–3,000 BCE), Chalcolithic (3000–1000 BCE), Megalithic (1000 BCE–500 CE).