Neolithic Age (7,000 BC - 1,000 BC)

Neolithic Age (7,000 BC - 1,000 BC)

Meaning of Neolithic

• The term 'Neolithic' is the combination of two Greek words, Neo (New) and Lithic (Stone). Thus, the meaning of the Neolithic Age is New Stone Age.

Discovery of Neolithic Archaeological Materials in India

• In India, the credit for the discovery of Neolithic archaeological materials goes to Dr. Primros. He discovered Neolithic implements, polished stone knives & arrow-heads from Lingasur of Karnataka in 1842.

• After that, in 1860, H.P. Le Mesurier discovered some implements of the Neolithic Age from the Yamuna River valley situated in the Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh.

Neolithic Revolution

• Famous archaeologist V. Gordon Childe (1892-1957) wrote in his book 'Man Makes Himself that Neolithic implements had brought a revolution (or a great change) in man's material life.

• This revolution is named the 'Neolithic Revolution' by him.

Neolithic Human Life

Chief Characteristics

• Three chief characteristics of human life in the Neolithic Age were Crop cultivation (Agriculture), Animal husbandry & fixed abode/habitat.

Earliest Known Village

• Mehargarh (Bolan district, Baluchistan Province, Pakistan) is called the earliest known village site of the Indian subcontinent.

Agriculture

• The beginning of agriculture was an important discovery of this age. The culture of this age was much developed compared to preceding cultures.

  • Men of this age became food producers as well as food consumers. They became familiar with crop cultivation.

  • At which place did crop-cultivation begin first of all?-It is a matter of controversy.

  • Most scholars think that crop cultivation began at Mehargarh in the Indian subcontinent.

  • The earliest evidence of agriculture was found at Mehargarh, which lies in the Bolan district of Baluchistan Province.

  • The main cultivated crops of Neolithic men were wheat, Barley, Paddy, Millets, various types of vegetables, etc.

• The earliest evidence of Wheat and Barley cultivation was found at Mehargarh (Bolan district, Baluchistan Province, Pakistan) in the Indian subcontinent.

• The oldest evidence of paddy cultivation was found at Koldihawa (Allahabad district, Uttar Pradesh) in the Indian subcontinent as well as in the whole of the world.

Animal Husbandry

Although men of lithic age were familiar with animals in the later phase of the Mesolithic age, in this period, men's relationship with animals became much intimate.

• In other words, in this age, animal husbandry became extended.

• Among the animals domesticated by Neolithic men, the main animals were the dog, Sheep-Goat, Horse, etc.

• The main occupation of Neolithic men was animal hunting, catching fish & taming sheep-goat etc.

Due to the extension of agriculture and animal husbandry, the way of life of men changed. Their nomadic life (ramping/wandering life) came to an end now, and they used to live a life of a farmer who settled in a place.

Clothes

• In this age, men started growing cotton and learnt about clothes.

• The clayey remains of spindle and loom from neolithic sites indicate that neolithic men knew about clothes weaving with the threads of wool, hemp (jute) & cotton.

• The earliest evidence of cotton in the world was found at Mehargarh (Bolan district, Pakistan).

In other words, India is the first country in the world whose people learnt the art of spinning and weaving of cloth.

Houses

• Generally, Neolithic men lived in huts that had been made on the ground from bamboo and smearing of clay.

[Exception: Kashmir Valley, Punjab (Pakistan)]

• In the Kashmir valley & Punjab (Pakistan), neolithic men dwelled in pits, which are called 'pit dwellings'.

• They dug the ground in a circular or oval shape and made homes to live in.

• To climb down into or climb up from the pit, they made niches as clay-stairs made in the wells to climb down or to climb up.

• Some small holes at short distances had been made for embedding the posts on the edges of pits, which are called 'post-holes'.

• With the help of these posts, thatch of grass and straw were laid over pits so that they could protect themselves from wind, sunshine, and rain.

• The archaeological evidence of pit-dwelling has been found from Burzahom & Gufkaral of Kashmir and Saraikhola of Punjab (Pakistan).

Pottery

• In 4,000 BC, Neolithic men invented the Potter's wheel/Wheel, which is believed to be a very important invention in the technological advancement of men.

• Due to this invention, the pottery (earthenware vessels) that were made from a potter's wheel became possible, which were made by hand in the previous time.

• With the prevalence of the wheel, the process of painting on the surface of pottery became popular.

Burial Process

North India

• In North India, there were two types of burial process-complete and partial burial process.

• In the complete burial process, the circular pit was dug first, and after that, in that pit, the dead person was laid flat on its back.

• In the partial burial process, selected bones of the dead person were buried in the grave that was dug in the ground.

• The custom of burying the pet animal dog with its master was practised at Burzahom and Gufkaral of Kashmir.

• The evidence of the burial of the pet animal goat with its master was practiced at Mehargarh of Baluchistan (Pakistan).

• Probably these animals (dog, goat, etc) were placed to be eaten by the dead person in the next world.

South India

• In South India, there were two types of burial process-complete/extensive and partial burial process.

• Under a complete/extensive burial process, the corpses of old males and females were buried in the graves that were dug in the ground.

• In the grave, pottery, implements, etc, were placed as grave goods along with the corpse.

• Corpses of small babies were completely buried after placing them into a pot (pot-burials). Pot-burial is the symbol of return to the womb.

• Under a partial burial process, selected bones of the dead person were buried in the graves.

Implements

• In terms of civilization, Neolithic men had achieved sufficient advancement.

• Stone amplements of this age ass petcked, ground and pobshed

• These implements were made from stones other than quartzite.

• The main implements are wen-calt hatcher, chisel, pestle, arrow-bead, saw, etc.

• At the level of the Neolithic, extensive knowledge of metalurgy was not indicated.

• The actual Neolithic level has been accepted as a metalless culture.

Where limited use of metal had been seen at the Neolithic level, the archaeologists named that level the Chalcolithic level (Chalco=Copper)

Final Thoughts

The Neolithic Age marked a significant turning point in human history, bringing profound changes in lifestyle, economy, and society.

With the development of agriculture, animal husbandry, permanent settlements, clothing, pottery, and burial practices, humans transitioned from a nomadic to a settled way of life.

The discoveries at sites like Mehargarh, Burzahom, and Koldihawa highlight the advancements of this era in the Indian subcontinent. The Neolithic Age laid the foundation for future civilizations, symbolizing the beginning of a more organized and progressive human society.