The Paleolithic Period was an ancient cultural stage of human technological development. It was characterized by the creation and use of rudimentary chipped stone tools. The period also saw the manufacture of small sculptures and paintings on cave walls. In India, the Palaeolithic Age is divided into three phases based on stone tool use and climate change.
I. Lower Paleolithic Age
- The Lower Palaeolithic or the Early Old Stone Age covers most of the ice age.
- It began in Africa around two million years ago but in India, it dates back to 600,000 years.
- The age consists of two principal tool-making traditions: Soanian and Acheulian.
- People used hand axes, cleavers, and choppers for chopping, digging, and skinning.
- Early Old Stone Age sites have been found in the valley of the river Son or Sohan in Punjab, now in Pakistan, as well as Kashmir and the Thar desert.
- Lower Palaeolithic tools have also been found in the Belan valley in UP and the desert area of Didwana in Rajasthan.
- Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh is an important site, and the caves and rock shelters of Bhimbetka near Bhopal show features of the Lower Palaeolithic age.
- The people of this age were food gatherers and small game hunters who lived on fish and birds.
II. Middle Paleolithic Age
- The Middle Palaeolithic industries were largely based on flakes or small pieces of stone.
- These flakes were produced by specialized techniques and the culture is referred to as the flake tool industry.
- Artefacts of this age are found at several places on the river Narmada and south of the Tungabhadra river.
- The Belan valley (UP) is rich in stone tools and animal fossils, relating to both the Lower and Middle Stone ages.
III. Upper Paleolithic Age
- The Upper Palaeolithic marks the appearance of new flint industries and modern humans.
- It is marked by technological advances in stone tool manufacture, including the production of parallel-sided blades.
- In India, blades and burins have been found in several areas, including AP, Karnataka, Maharashtra, central MP, southern UP, and Jharkhand.
- Caves and rock shelters for human use in this phase have been discovered at Bhimbetka.
- An Upper Palaeolithic assemblage characterized by large flakes, blades, burins, and scrapers has also been found in the upper levels of the Gujarat sand dunes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the Paleolithic Period?
A: The Paleolithic Period, also known as the Old Stone Age, is a prehistoric era that spans from approximately 2.6 million years ago to around 10,000 BCE. It is characterized by the use of stone tools by early human ancestors and is divided into the Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic.
Q: What were the key technological advancements during the Paleolithic Period?
A: Stone tools were a significant technological innovation during the Paleolithic Period. Initially, simple tools like handaxes and choppers were used in the Lower Paleolithic. In the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, more refined tools, such as blades and burins, emerged. The period also witnessed the development of more sophisticated hunting techniques.
Q: How did early humans adapt to their environment during the Paleolithic Period?
A: Early humans in the Paleolithic Period were nomadic hunter-gatherers. They relied on hunting wild animals, fishing, and gathering edible plants for sustenance. Their adaptability is evident in the variety of environments they inhabited, from ice age tundra to more temperate regions.
Q: Did social structures exist in the Paleolithic communities?
A: While specific details are challenging to ascertain, evidence suggests that Paleolithic communities had some form of social structure. Groups likely consisted of family units or clans, and cooperation would have been essential for survival. Cave art and burial practices indicate some level of symbolic or ritualistic behavior, suggesting a developing social and cultural aspect.
Q: How did art and symbolic expression evolve during the Paleolithic Period?
A: The Upper Paleolithic is renowned for the emergence of cave art, intricate carvings, and personal ornaments. These artifacts suggest a significant development in symbolic expression and possibly early forms of communication. The purpose of Paleolithic art is still debated, but it likely served a combination of utilitarian, ritualistic, and symbolic functions within these ancient societies.
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