Pre-Historic India

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The prehistoric age in India dates back to the start of the Stone age or the Paleolithic age and then ends with the Iron age just before the Indus valley civilization. The prehistoric period is roughly dated to be from 200000 BC to around 3500-2500BC when the shaping of the first civilization took place. The Paleolithic Age is also known as the Old stone age. It dates from 500,00-10,000BCE. During this period, Indians belonged to the 'Negrito' race. The Lower Paleolithic age was the Ice Age which mainly consisted of hunters and gatherers. Crudely carved out stones were used by people for hunting. The characteristics of the tools used by people in the paleolithic age were very rough and with the end of this period, human beings started making and using fire. The Middle Paleolithic Age was part of the old stone age where human beings started making pointed and sharp tools such as flakes, blades, and pointers. They used specialized tools for killing small animals and also for tearing the flesh from dead, hunted animals. The case was the last phase of the Ice Age when the climate became comparatively warm. This is when the emergence of Homo Sapiens took place. Along with this many bone tools such as needles, fishing tools, and boring tools were also innovated. One of the major sites for the Upper Paleolithic Age where hand axes, blades, and scrapers have been found was Bhimbetka (South of Bhopal). The majority cage is also known as the Middle Stone Age where much evidence of hunting and fishing tools were found. This book renders an account of our knowledge of Indian prehistory from the earliest times to the settlement of the Aryans m the north-west In the second half of the second millennium B. C. It does not pretend to be more than a stock taking of our incomplete evidence and interpretation, as a preliminary and incentive to further work in the field.

Aditya Chaddha obtained his PhD degree in Ancient History from the Vikram University. He has been a Research Scholar and an Assistant Professor of History at various universities across India. His research interests include stone age, early agricultural communities, and early traditions. He authored and edited a number of academic periodicals, journal papers, articles and books in the field of Ancient History. Chaddha is an active member of several scientific and technical societies, where he continues to share his expertise and knowledge in the field of History and archaeology. He has also been the recipient of two awards for his incredible contribution to the field.

With a deep fascination for the ancient past, Parvez Malladi has dedicated his career to unraveling the mysteries and complexities of this intriguing era, contributing significantly to the understanding of Indian civilization's origins. Malladi holds a Ph.D. in Archaeology, specializing in Historic studies. His extensive educational background, coupled with his passion for the subject, has provided him with a strong foundation for his research and explorations. Malladi actively engages in archaeological research projects, collaborating with fellow scholars to unearth new insights into Pre-Historic India. He has presented his research findings at prestigious national and international seminars and conferences, enriching the academic discourse surrounding ancient Indian civilizations. Malladi's scholarly contributions extend beyond his book, with numerous published papers in esteemed historical journals. His meticulous research and insightful analysis have earned him recognition and awards, highlighting the profound impact of his work on the field.

The pre-historic times of India are usually marked by the stone age. the bronze age, and the iron age. With the wide range of archaeological pieces as evidence, the prehistoric period in India is divided into five parts. The prehistoric age in India dates back to the start of the Stone age or the Paleolithic age and then ends with the Iron age just before the Indus valley civilization. The prehistoric period is roughly dated to be from 200000 BC to around 3500-2500BC when the shaping of the first civilization took place. The Paleolithic Age is also known as the Old stone age. It dates from 500,00-10,000BCE. During this period. Indians belonged to the 'Negrito' race. The Lower Paleolithic age was the Ice Age which mainly consisted of hunters and gatherers. Crudely carved out stones were used by people for hunting. The characteristics of the tools used by people in the paleolithic age were very rough and with the end of this period, human beings started making and using fire. The Middle Paleolithic Age was part of the old stone age where human beings started making pointed and sharp tools such as flakes, blades, and pointers. They used specialized tools for killing small animals and also for tearing the flesh from dead, hunted animals. The case was the last phase of the Ice Age when the climate became comparatively warm. This is when the emergence of Homo Sapiens took place. Along with this many bone tools such as needles, fishing tools, and boring tools were also innovated. One of the major sites for the Upper Paleolithic Age where hand axes, blades, and scrapers have been found was Bhimbetka (South of Bhopal). The majority cage is also known as the Middle Stone Age where much evidence of hunting and fishing tools were found. The Mesolithic Age dated from 8000 BC to 4000 BC. Microliths (miniature tools made of crypto-crystalline silica) were found.

People in this middle stone age believed in life after death and also began with semi-permanent settlements. The clothes worn by human beings during this period were made of animal skin. The Neolithic Age. also known as the New Stone Age, witnessed the growth of agriculture and pottery. The Neolithic Age dated from 4000 BC to 2500 BC. Along with this, the New Stone Age marked the beginning of civilizations with circular houses built by people. The Chalcolithic age was also referred to as the Copper Age because metals like bronze and copper were used during this period. This Age dated from 1800 BC to 2500 BC. The Chalcolithic Age is also known as the Pre-Harappan phase where cattle rearing and rural settlement started taking place. Along with this, there was a growth in art and craft which included the coppersmiths as well as stone workers. The Copper Age has witnessed high infant mortality rates with the burial areas as evidence found by our archaeologists in Maharashtra. Clay goddesses and jewelry made of copper or bones were also found. The Iron Age from the 19th century brought an end to the Bronze Age. Many weapons were made in this era. The Iron Age lasted from 1500 to 600 BCE. The Iron Age witnessed the arrival of Aryans and the Vedic period along with Buddhism and Jainism. People also witnessed the re-urbanized Indus and Ganges Valley civilization which was divided between the 16 greatest powers known as Mahajanapadas. The major sites for the Iron Age were found in present-day Northern India. These were the prehistoric ages in India. The prehistoric age of India consisted of the Stone Age, the Copper Age, and the Iron Age. Prehistoric India witnessed the Ice Age and the emergence of Homo Sapiens as well.

This book renders an account of our knowledge of Indian prehistory from the earliest times to the settlement of the Aryans m the north- west In the second half of the second millennium B. C. It does not pretend to be more than a stock taking of our incomplete evidence and interpretation, as a preliminary and incentive to further work in the field.

**Contents and Sample Pages**