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(2 The Stone Age

We will learn
WARM UP
picture The Stone Age and its
What does the following periods:Palaeolithic,
class.
show? Discuss in Mesolithic, Neolithic,
Chalcolithic
The Bronze Age

Historians have divided time into various stages starting from the time life appeared
onthe Earth. The period from the beginning of life till writing was invented is called
pre-history. This phase is divided into three stages--Stone Age, Bronze Age and
Iron Age.

The Stone Age and its Periods


The time period duringwhich the early humans used stones to make tools and weapons
iscalled the Stone Age. The Stone Age has been further divided into four periods:
(a) Palaeolithic or Old Stone Age (b) Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age
(c) Neolithicor New Stone Age (d) Chalcolithic or Copper-Stone Age

Palaeolithic Age (2,000,000 BC - 10,000 BC)


old, and 'lithos',
The word 'Palaeolithic' comes from two Greek words, 'palaeo', meaning
meaning stone. Therefore, it isalso called Old Stone Age.
Life
CIn this period human beings lived a nomadic
life. They were always on move in search of
food and water, They hunted wild animals
for
and gathered fruits, nuts, roots and eggs
food. They had no idea about growing crops
or rearing animals. They lived insmallgroups
which helped them in hunting big animals.
bark
They covered themselves with leaves, Hunting an animal
of trees and animal skin to protect themselves from adverse weather conditions. They
protectthemselvesfrom wild animals.
shelters or on trees to
livedin caves,rock D

Tools D
the earliest
Archaeologists have found some of d
by Old Stone Age
stone tools made and used
probably
humans. Some of these tools were
Used to cut meat and bone,
chop fruits, dig
the ground to collect edible roots
wOod. Some may have been used to
and to chop

weapons such as arrow heads for hunting.


make 1800
OldStone Age tools

How Stone Age Humans Made Hand Axes


2. The humans roughly 3 Using a hammer made
shaped the rock with of wood, stone, or antler,
1. The process started with a stone hammer. they sharpened the
a large piece of rock. edge.

4. They trimmed the


edge by prying off
tiny flakes with a
pointed stick. Finished Hand Axe

front view side view

Sites

Archaeologists have found evidence of hunter


gatherers from various sites in India. Some
important Palaeolithic sites have been found
at Bhimbetka in
Madhya Pradesh, Hunsgi in
Karnataka and Kurnool in Andhra
Pradesh.
Rock shelters where people
8 lived, Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh
Discovery of Fire Fact Corner
During this period, the early humans Large quantities of ostrich egg shells were
discovered fire., Whenever there was bad found at Patne in Maharashtra. This shows
that Ostriches were found in India during
weather accompanied by lightning and the Palaeolithic period.
thunder, the bushes and trees in the forest
used to catch fire.
At some point, the early humans
also found that sparks of fire were
probably
when two stones were rubbed against each
produced
other. They burnt leaves with the sparks of
fire. Gradually,they used this fire for cooking
meat and to protect themselves from wild
animals. The discovery of fire led to the
development of human civilization.

Making fire
Fact Corner
Archaeologists have found traces of ash in the Kurnool caves in Andhra Pradesh. This shows that
people were familiar with the use of fire.

MesolithicAge (10,000 BC -8,000 BC)


The word 'Mesolithic' comes from two Greek words, 'meso', meaningmiddle, and lithos',
meaning stone. Therefore, it is also called Middle Stone Age.
Life

The Mesolithic Age was the transition phase between


Palaeolithic Age and Neolithic Age. This period saw
ashift in the nomadic lifestyle of people. Due to
climatic changes, a lot of food could be found in a
relatively small area. This allowed people to stay at
one place for alonger period. This was the beginning
of asettled form of life. Mesolithic people still lived
incaves and rock shelters. During this period fishing
became important and people began thinking about
Fishing
Moreover, by observing how new plants
domesticating animals for their
from seeds, people learned to grow
use.
crops. sprote
Tools
started making
In the Mesolithic Age, people
found during
better tools.The smallstone tools
microliths. These smal
this period are called
handles of bone
stone tools were fixed onto the Microliths
such as
or wood to make tools and weapons
use of older
spears, arrows and saws, Also, the
varieties of tools continued during this period.
Sites
Some important Mesolithic sites have been
found at Bhimbetka and Pachmarhi in Madhya
Pradesh, Bagor in Rajasthan and Damdama in
Uttar Pradesh.
Acave in Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
Neolithic Age (8,000 BC - 4,000 BC)
Fact Corner
The word Neolithic' comes from twoGreek words, 'heo, The first animal to be tamed
meaning new, and lithos', meaning stone. Therefore, it is by early man was the wild
also called NewStone Age. ancestor of the dog.
Life

This period saw the beginning of farming and herding.


Early humans in this period became farmers and herders
from hunter-gatherers. They could now produce food and
domesticate animals to get meat and milk. Some of the
earliest crops to be cultivated were wheat and barley. The
earliest domesticated animals included sheep and goat. Now
people no longer had to move from place to place in search
of food. This led to the development of settlements where a
large number of people lived in groups. Apot discovered from
Burzahom, Kashmir
The invention of wheel was one ofthe greatest achievements
for humans in the Neolithic Age. It made the life of people easier. It enabled them to
make pots and utensils and move heavy loads easily. Wheel was also used for spinning
10
People began weaving cloth usingdiferent kinds of materials such
and weaving cloth.
as cotton.
reveal that Neolithic people buried their
Some burial sites found during excavations
other objects. This shows that they believed in life after death.These
dead along with
dead in the other world.
objects were probably meant to be used by the
findings include traces of huts or houses at some sites. For example, in Burzahom,
Other
provided shelter in cold weather.
pit-houses have been found which may have
found earthen pots which may have been used to store things
Archaeologists have also
orcook food.

Tools
The Neolithic tools were well shaped and
polished to give a fine cutting edge. They were
They
made up of stone, wood as well as bone.
were used for grinding grain and other plant
produce.
However, at the same time, tools of the
Palaeolithicand Mesolithic Age were also being
made and used. Tools of the Neolithic Age

Fact Corner
rearing sheep and goats in Indian
The earliest evidence of growing barley and wheat, and
subcontinent has come from Mehrgarh, in present-day Pakistan.

Sites
Subcontinent. Some
Archaeologists have found anumber of Neolithic sites in the Indian
of the important ones are at Mehrgarh in
Pakistan, Burzahom in Kashmir, Koldihwa
grains and bones of domesticated
in Uttar Pradesh and Chirand in Bihar. Evidence of
animals have been found from these places.

Chalcolithic Age (4,000 BC - 2,000 BC)


with stone for making
The period which saw widespread use of copper metal along
Copper-Stone
tools and weapons is known as Chalcolithic Age. It is also known as the
Age.

(11
Life agriculture, raising livestock, and
upon
people of this period were dependent there was widespread use of copper
Ihe
fishing for their food. During this age artefacts and utensilsfor daily
hunting and tools and weapons. Many
for making
along with stones
copper.
usage were also made of

Tools
hooks, chisels, pins,
Swords, knives, axes, fishing
tools made of copper
and rods were the common
by the Chalcolithic people.
Sites
in Karnataka, Kurnool in Andhra
Brahmagiri
and Navdatoli in Madhya Pradesh Chalcolithic tools
Pradesh copper
in India where
are some of the sites
implements have been found.
BC- 1,200 BC)
The Bronze Age (2,000
Bronze Age, humans learnt to use
During the
more advanced ways. They learnt to
metal in
tin with copper and that is how bronze
combine made of
formed. Tools and weapons were A bronze-age axe
stronger than those made
was
bronze as they were
stone. Many artefacts and utensils
of copper or made of bronze.
usage were also
for daily

( Now l Know major periods--Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron


into three
Historians have divided Prehistory
Age.
stone to make tools and weapons.
Stone Age saw the use of
The
Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic Age.
The Stone Age is divided into gathering.
Palaeolithic Age was an age of hunting and
The
phase between Palaeolithicand Neolithic Age.
transition
The Mesolithic Age was a
was an ageof farming and domestication of animals.
The Neolithic Age Age.
was an important achievement for humans in the Neolithic
Invention of wheel

12
The use of copper along with stone for making tools and weapons marked the beginning of
the Copper-Stone Age or Chalcolithic Age.
The Chalcolithic Age was followed by the Bronze Age. During this age, human beings learnt
tocombine tin with copper to produce bronze.
During the Bronze Age, tools and weapons were made of bronze as it was a stronger and
harder material than copper or stone.

Words to Know
nomadic: life style of people who have no fix home
rearing:to care for young animals until they are able to care for themselves
civilization: the society, culture,and way of life of aparticular area.
domestication: the process of taming an animal and keeping it as a pet or on a farm.
farming: the growing of crops over a piece of land.
herding: the act of bringing individual animals together into a group (herd), maintaining the
group, and moving the group from place to place-or any combination of those
weaving: amethod of in which two distinct sets of threads are interlaced at right angles to form
a fabric or cloth.
pit-house: a house that is at least partly below the ground.
artefact: an object made bya human being, typically one of culturalor historical interest.

Exercises

(A. Write (T) for true and (F) for false sentences.
1. The Stone Age has been further divided into four periods.
2. During Palaeolithic Age, people led asettled life. F
3. Mesolithic people lived in caves and rock shelters.
4. Early humans burnt leaves with the sparks of fire.
Mesolithic Age.
5. Human beings learnt to grow crops during

B. Fill in the blanks.


weapons during
1. Early humans used stones to make tools and
the Age.
in Madhya Pradesh.
2. Palaeolithic sites have been found at
3. Fishing became important during
Mpsslth Age.

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