Prehistoric

cultures of
the
Human origins and evolution
Prior to Darwin-Common story- life was divine creation
Renaissance in Europe, period of logic and reasoning. Being more
rational and scientific in approach. When Darwin comes to scene, puts
forward the theory of biological revolution. Plays an important role for
other scientist to trace how human beings evolved.
After these theories were put in domain, various researches in different
parts of the world, discovering fossil fuels and other evidences related
to evolution- Tanzania, earliest traces of humans.
From Africa, migrated to Eurasia and other landscapes in asia and south
asia.

Hominid remain in Indian subcontinent

Land of tremendous diversity. South asia has perfect pre-requisites for
early human occupation, but-Inadequate research, Weather conditions
are not feasible for fossils or other organic matter to survive.
God apes
1966- first time that archaeologists, Louis Dupree, found fragment of
the temporal bone of human being, Afghanistan, very much consistent
with neanderthal traces in Europe.

PREHISTORY
Daniel Wilson
Represents longest part of human brain
Evolution of anatomically modern humans
Developments in stone tool technology and subsistence strategies
Evidence comes from archaeological and anthropological data
Hunter-gatherer, pastoral and agricultural societies
Pre-literate societies, no written records available
How do we know about these societies? On the basis of material
remains

THREE AGE SYSTEM

C.J. THOMSEN-1836-Stone, bronze, iron
John Lubbock- divides stone age into 3 periods- Palaeolithic-
oldstoneagae and Neolithic- newstoneage

PREHISTORIC RESEARCHES IN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

ROBERT Bruce Foote-1863- first palaeolithic tool, Hand axe at madras at
pallavaram
Mesolithic- transitional period where people made shift from one
lifestyle to another, reflects a process of change
Palaeolithic,Human beings completely reliant on nature- as scavengers
Neolithic- people able to produce their own food
Mesolithic- launchpad for human beings to shift to a completely new
style

ARCHAELOGICA GEOLOGICA STONE MODES OF

L AGE L AGE TOOL SUBSISTENC
TYPES E
LOWER PALAEOLITHIC EARLY TO MID- PEBBLE AND HUNTING,
PLEISTOCENE CORE TOOLS GATHERING AND
SCAVENGING
MID-PALAEOLITHIC LATE PLEISTOCENE FLAKE TOLLS HUNTING AND
GATHERING
UPPER PALAEOLITHIC LATE PLEISTOCENE BLADE TOOLS HUNTING AND
GATHERING
MESOLITHIC HOLOCENE MICROLITHS HUNTING,
GATHERING,
FISHING, ANIMAL
DOMESTICATION
NEOLITHIC HOLOCENEC CELTS ANIMAL AND PLANT
(GROUNDED DOMESTICATION
AND POLISHED)

PALAEOLOTHIC IN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT- 2MYA TO 10000YEARS

BP
FURTHER- LOWER, MIDDLE AND UPPER PALAEOLITHIC

ARCHAELOGICAL RECORD OF THE PALAEOLITHIC –

SITES- OPEN AIR, CAVEROCK SHELTERS
TOOLS- STONE, WOOD, AND BONE(FOSSILS)
PLANT REMAINS(ECOFACTS) ARE RARE
HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS FROM NARMADA VALLEY AND RAWALPINDI
ROCK ART/PAINTINGS, BEADS AND PENDANTS
STRUCTURAL REMAINS OF HUT- LIKE STRUCTURES FROM DIFFERENT
REGIONS. PLACE IN KARNATAK CALLED HUNGSI
Aryan
Question )racial
theory(
Aryans )as
immigrants/invaders(
Aryans )destroyer(
Aryans as
indigenous )alt
theory(
Harrapans part if this vedic culture. Savrkar. Gaiwakrkar ,

Aghand Bhaarat

AfGHan And Bharat

Raakhigarhi- has been excavated several times, info related is very established. Last
excavation conducted were even more technical and inter-disciplinary. Dna samples and
all. Results of new findings- published in newspapers. Shinde.

I have a class at 2
Tujhe chura ke mithai
ki dukaan pe bech
dungi 0s only mein
Indian
subcontine
nt-
palaeolithi
c,
Mesolithic
and
neolithic

Textual sources suggest a movement of people into the gangetic region, not confirmed by
archaeological sources

Re-grouping of earlier tribes and emergence of new tribes/clan(Aryan and non-aryan)

Kuru- Panchala and kosala- videhi region

Saptasindhu as ‘impure land”- no sacrifices performed

Emergence of settled agricultural communities in the gangetic valley- the reasons are debated

Literary Sources (c.1000-600BCE)

Archaeological sources

PGW( Painted Grey ware culture)- c1000-500/400bce

Found in association with Black and red ware, red ware potteries

Grey pottery with a smooth surface

Painted gRey Ware culture

Settlements located along the river banks- rural, no urban sites. Large settlements like the one in
Ambala district and cholistan. But size doesn’t reflect upon urbanity

Structural remains indicate people lived in houses either made of mud or Wattle and Daub houses

Artefacts of copper, iron, glass, terracotta and bone

Associated with Aryans- debated

Pottery types cant be identified with a tribe or a group(bb lal, lookup-pgw is culture of mahabharat)

Archaeogists believe bb lal’s association is not stemming out of archaeological scrutiny but more
from the belief

Introduction of Iron in northern India

Copper-bronze- iron (advancements in metallurgical technologies)

Earliest evidence for use of iron from the west asia(3rd millennium)

1000-800 Bce- evidence for the use of iron in the Indian Subcontinent

found in association with brw ang pgw assemblages

borrowed or indigenous technology, debated among scholars

shyama ayas(yajur veda) or krishna ayas (brahmanas)- black metal

archaeologist suggest the dating of the mterials in the subcontinent vary. Difference of 300years
between finding in upper gangetic and lower gangetic plain

Southern peninsula associated with megalithic culture

Ayas(metal)- scholars believe it was composed during the early vedic period. Ayas can be generic
term used for other materials as well.

Impact of iron technology

Impact of iron tech on society debated- Iron and social change thesis

Focus on the gangetic valley in the 1st mil Bce

Kosambi and R.S. Sharma- iron technology crucial for an agrarian economy, urbanism and state
formation

Kosambi- excess in iron ores would’ve provided for the Aryan population, monopoly over ores,
becoming a dominant political structure

These hypothesis put forward by Kosambi not associated with archaeological sources, Ores
extracted from region on hills between Gwalior and agra

R.S. Sharma- intensification of agricultural settlements

Am Ghosh N. ray, M lal, G, Erdorsy- iron tech not a pre-requisite for agrarian expansion or urbanism

Iron used for making weapons and not for agricultural implements

Upinder Singh- colonial times, impact of iron tech gradual but increases during early historic period

Later Vedic Economy

Agriculture- mainstay of people

Proliferation of agricultural settlements in Gangetic plains

Use of iron ploughshare in agriculture- debated, evidence from Atranjikhera and Jakhera

Wheat Barley, pulses and rice cultivated- textual and archaeological evidence

Vedic texts mention six variety of rice(vrihi, tandula, shali)

Cereals- benas(masa), sesame(til), millet(syamaka)

Wheat (godhama)-the food of mleccha (non-aryan)

Rice-eaters referred to as Akshat(indestructible)

Limited surplus production- non-monetary peasant economy

Decline in pastoral activities- mixed economy(agro-pastoral)

Diversity of craft activities and professional group/classes

References to wealthy merchants( sreshthi), usurer- people who would provide loans in the form of
commodities (kusida/kusidin)- shatpatha brahmana

No proper evidence for regular trade

Later vedic society

Family(kula) as the basic unit of society- a joint family/household(griha)

Patriarchal- grihapati, Yajaman

Primogeniture

Emergence of Ashrama system

Brahmacharya

Grihastha

Vanaprastha

Sanyasa(added later)

Position of women declines