Neolithic Age
A remarkable progress is
noticed in human civilization in the
Neolithic Age. It is approximately
dated from 6000 B.C to 4000
B.C. Neolithic remains are found
in various parts of India. These
include the Kashmir valley,
Chirand in Bihar, Belan valley inUttar Pradesh and in several places of the Deccan. The important
Neolithic sites excavated in south India are Maski, Brahmagiri, Hallur
and Kodekal in Karnataka, Paiyampalli in Tamil Nadu and Utnur in
Andhra Pradesh.
The chief characteristic features of the Neolithic culture are
the practice of agriculture, domestication of animals, polishing of
stone tools and the manufacture of pottery. In fact, the cultivation of
plants and domestication of animals led to the emergence of village
communities based on sedentary life.
There was a great improvement in technology of making tools
and other equipments used by man. Stone tools were now polished.
The polished axes were found to be more effective tools for hunting
and cutting trees. Mud brick houses were built instead of grass huts.
Wheels were used to make pottery. Pottery was used for cooking
as well as storage of food grains. Large urns were used as coffins
for the burial of the dead. There was also improvement in agriculture.
Wheat, barely, rice, millet were cultivated in different areas at
different points of time. Rice cultivation was extensive in eastern
India. Domestication of sheep, goats and cattle was widely prevalent.
Cattle were used for cultivation and for transport. The people of
Neolithic Age used clothes made of cotton and wool.
Metal Age
The Neolithic period is followed by Chalcolithic (copper-stone)
period when copper and bronze came to be used. The new
technology of smelting metal ore and crafting metal artifacts is an
important development in human civilization. But the use of stone
tools was not given up. Some of the micro-lithic tools continued to
be essential items. People began to travel for a long distance to
obtain metal ores. This led to a network of Chalcolithic cultures
and the Chalcolithic cultures were found in many parts of IndiaGenerally, Chalcolithic cultures had grown in river valleys.
Most importantly, the Harappan culture is considered as a part of
Chalcolithic culture. In South India the river valleys of the Godavari,
Krishna, Tungabhadra, Pennar and Kaveri were settled by farming
communities during this period. Although they were not using metals
in the beginning of the Metal Age, there is evidence of copper and
bronze artifacts by the end of second millennium B.C. Several bronze
and copper objects, beads, terracotta figurines and pottery were
found at Paiyampalli in Tamil Nadu.
The Chalcolithic age is followed by Iron Age. Iron is frequently
referred to in the Vedas. The Iron Age of the southern peninsula is
often related to Megalithic Burials. Megalith means Large Stone.
The burial pits were covered with these stones. Such graves are
extensively found in South India. Some of the important megalithic
sites are Hallur and Maski in Karnataka, Nagarjunakonda in Andhra
Pradesh and Adichchanallur in Tamil Nadu. Black and red pottery,
iron artifacts such as hoes and sickles and small weapons were
found in the burial pits.
A remarkable progress is
noticed in human civilization in the
Neolithic Age. It is approximately
dated from 6000 B.C to 4000
B.C. Neolithic remains are found
in various parts of India. These
include the Kashmir valley,
Chirand in Bihar, Belan valley inUttar Pradesh and in several places of the Deccan. The important
Neolithic sites excavated in south India are Maski, Brahmagiri, Hallur
and Kodekal in Karnataka, Paiyampalli in Tamil Nadu and Utnur in
Andhra Pradesh.
The chief characteristic features of the Neolithic culture are
the practice of agriculture, domestication of animals, polishing of
stone tools and the manufacture of pottery. In fact, the cultivation of
plants and domestication of animals led to the emergence of village
communities based on sedentary life.
There was a great improvement in technology of making tools
and other equipments used by man. Stone tools were now polished.
The polished axes were found to be more effective tools for hunting
and cutting trees. Mud brick houses were built instead of grass huts.
Wheels were used to make pottery. Pottery was used for cooking
as well as storage of food grains. Large urns were used as coffins
for the burial of the dead. There was also improvement in agriculture.
Wheat, barely, rice, millet were cultivated in different areas at
different points of time. Rice cultivation was extensive in eastern
India. Domestication of sheep, goats and cattle was widely prevalent.
Cattle were used for cultivation and for transport. The people of
Neolithic Age used clothes made of cotton and wool.
Metal Age
The Neolithic period is followed by Chalcolithic (copper-stone)
period when copper and bronze came to be used. The new
technology of smelting metal ore and crafting metal artifacts is an
important development in human civilization. But the use of stone
tools was not given up. Some of the micro-lithic tools continued to
be essential items. People began to travel for a long distance to
obtain metal ores. This led to a network of Chalcolithic cultures
and the Chalcolithic cultures were found in many parts of IndiaGenerally, Chalcolithic cultures had grown in river valleys.
Most importantly, the Harappan culture is considered as a part of
Chalcolithic culture. In South India the river valleys of the Godavari,
Krishna, Tungabhadra, Pennar and Kaveri were settled by farming
communities during this period. Although they were not using metals
in the beginning of the Metal Age, there is evidence of copper and
bronze artifacts by the end of second millennium B.C. Several bronze
and copper objects, beads, terracotta figurines and pottery were
found at Paiyampalli in Tamil Nadu.
The Chalcolithic age is followed by Iron Age. Iron is frequently
referred to in the Vedas. The Iron Age of the southern peninsula is
often related to Megalithic Burials. Megalith means Large Stone.
The burial pits were covered with these stones. Such graves are
extensively found in South India. Some of the important megalithic
sites are Hallur and Maski in Karnataka, Nagarjunakonda in Andhra
Pradesh and Adichchanallur in Tamil Nadu. Black and red pottery,
iron artifacts such as hoes and sickles and small weapons were
found in the burial pits.
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