Neolithic Age: Tools, Settlements, and Advancements
The Neolithic Age: Advancements in Settlements and Tools
- The Neolithic Age in the Indian subcontinent began around 6000 B.C. and lasted until around 1000 B.C.
- It was characterized by significant advancements in technology, including the use of polished stone tools and the domestication of animals.
- Neolithic settlements emerged in various parts of India, marked by the cultivation of crops, animal husbandry, and the development of pottery.
- The Neolithic Age paved the way for the transition from a nomadic lifestyle to settled agricultural communities.
Neolithic Tools
- Neolithic settlers used polished stone tools extensively for various purposes, including agriculture, construction, and domestic tasks.
- Stone axes were widely used for clearing land, woodworking, and building structures.
- The introduction of pottery marked a significant advancement, enabling storage, cooking, and other domestic activities.
- Agriculture tools such as digging sticks, hoes, and sickles revolutionized food production, leading to increased food security and population growth.
Neolithic Settlements
- Neolithic settlements were widespread across different regions of India, including Kashmir, South India, Assam, and the Garo Hills in Meghalaya.
- These settlements varied in size and organization, ranging from small villages to larger agricultural communities.
- The availability of fertile land, access to water sources, and favorable climatic conditions influenced the location and development of Neolithic settlements.
Neolithic Bone Tools
- In addition to stone tools, neolithic communities also crafted implements from bone, demonstrating advanced craftsmanship and resource utilization.
- Bone tools served various functions, including hunting, cooking, and ceremonial purposes, reflecting the diverse needs and cultural practices of neolithic societies.
- Significant discoveries of bone implements have been made at sites such as Burzahom and Chirand, shedding light on the material culture and technological capabilities of ancient populations.
Neolithic Agriculture
- The Neolithic Age marked the transition to settled agricultural communities, with evidence of cultivation of crops such as rice, wheat, barley, and pulses.
- Neolithic settlers practiced irrigation techniques and terraced farming to maximize agricultural productivity, leading to surplus food production and population growth.
- Agricultural advancements facilitated the establishment of permanent villages and the emergence of social stratification, with specialized roles and labor divisions.
Neolithic Pottery
- Neolithic communities developed sophisticated techniques for pottery making, using clay to create vessels for storage, cooking, and ritualistic purposes.
- Early pottery was handmade and rudimentary, but advancements in pottery wheels led to the production of wheel-thrown pottery with intricate designs and craftsmanship.
- Pottery served as an essential aspect of neolithic life, enabling the storage and preservation of food, as well as cultural expression through decorative motifs and symbolism.
Mehrgarh Culture: Early Agricultural Settlement in South Asia
Archaeological Significance of Mehrgarh: A Gateway to the Indus Valley Civilization
- Mehrgarh: Site of the earliest known agrarian settlements in the South Asian subcontinent, located west of the Indus River.
- Dubbed the Mehrgarh culture, considered a precursor to the Indus Valley civilization.
- Ancient people at Mehrgarh were nomads who preferred cattle-herding over hunting.
- Developed agricultural technologies allowing cultivation of crops like wheat, barley, and cotton.
Mehrgarh's Role as a Precursor to the Indus Valley Civilization
- Nearly all miniature figurines discovered at Mehrgarh depict women with elaborate hairstyles and protuberant breasts, possibly representing a fertility goddess.
- Male figurines appear later in time.
- Ancient Neolithic settlers at Mehrgarh were nomads who migrated from mountainous regions to settle in open pastures.
- They developed innovative technologies to replace stone tools as they moved away from hunting-and-gathering towards cattle-herding.
- They raised sheep, goats, and cattle.
- Inhabitants of Mehrgarh became agriculturists, cultivating crops like wheat and barley.
- This period of the South Asian Stone Age is known as the Early Food-Processing Stage (ca. 7000–5500 BCE) due to agricultural pursuits.
Technological and Cultural Developments in Mehrgarh
- Initially, people of Mehrgarh built small circular or rectangular houses with mud and reed.
- Living close to the Indus River resulted in floods washing away mud houses, prompting residents to fashion houses out of mud brick.
- Mehrgarh residents were avid agriculturists and valued their produce.
- Success of their agrarian lifestyle attributed to storing grains in granaries for later consumption.
- By 4000 BCE, people of Mehrgarh were living in two-storey homes.
- They used pottery wheels to create elaborate vases and vessels.
Architectural and Craftsmanship Advancements of Mehrgarh
- Mehrgarh people were ingenious craftsmen who fashioned tools from local copper ore and used it as pigment.
- Characteristic tools include borers and geometric microliths like lunates, triangles, trapezes, etc.
- Presence of turquoise and Lapis Luzili suggests long-distance contact with western and central Asia.
- Skilled in making fine, wheel-made pottery with a knife-edge rim, slipped in red, and painted in black.
- Archaeologists classify Mehrgarh pottery as ‘Togau Ware’, with designs ranging from Togau A to Togau D.
- Togau A pottery had intricate animal designs on inner rims, which became simpler over time.
The Transition from Neolithic to Chalcolithic in Mehrgarh
The small settlement of people at Mehrgarh were the first to witness the transition from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic phase by the fifth millennium BC.