South Asian Stone Age

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The South Asian Stone Age refers to the prehistoric period in the Indian subcontinent, which includes the modern-day countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. This era is characterized by the use of stone tools and is divided into three main periods: the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods. Each of these periods marks significant developments in human technology, culture, and adaptation to the environment.

Paleolithic Period

The Paleolithic period, or the Old Stone Age, is the earliest phase of the Stone Age, beginning approximately 2.6 million years ago and lasting until about 10,000 BCE. This period is further divided into the Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic.

Lower Paleolithic

The Lower Paleolithic in South Asia is marked by the presence of Acheulean tool technology, characterized by hand axes and cleavers. Sites such as the Soan Valley in Pakistan and the Attirampakkam site in Tamil Nadu, India, provide evidence of early human habitation and tool use.

Middle Paleolithic

The Middle Paleolithic period saw the development of more sophisticated flake tools, often associated with the Mousterian culture. This period is marked by the presence of Homo sapiens and possibly Neanderthals in the region.

Upper Paleolithic

The Upper Paleolithic period, beginning around 40,000 BCE, is characterized by the emergence of blade tools and the first evidence of art and symbolic behavior. Sites such as Bhimbetka in central India contain rock shelters with prehistoric paintings.

Mesolithic Period

The Mesolithic period, or Middle Stone Age, spans from about 10,000 BCE to 6,000 BCE. This period is characterized by the use of microliths, small stone tools that were often used as part of composite tools. The Mesolithic people were hunter-gatherers who began to exploit a wider range of environments and resources.

Neolithic Period

The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, began around 6,000 BCE and lasted until about 3300 BCE. This period is marked by the advent of agriculture, domestication of animals, and the establishment of permanent settlements. The Mehrgarh site in present-day Pakistan is one of the earliest known Neolithic sites in South Asia, showing evidence of early farming and herding.

Cultural and Technological Developments

Throughout the Stone Age, South Asian societies developed a variety of tools and technologies that allowed them to adapt to diverse environments. The transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer groups to settled agricultural communities marked a significant shift in social organization and economic practices.

Also see

• Prehistoric Asia
• Bronze Age in the Indian subcontinent
• Indus Valley Civilization
• Acheulean
• Mousterian
• Bhimbetka
• Mehrgarh