Que. Delineate and account for the regional characteristics of the Neolithic period in India.
प्रश्न: भारत में नवपाषाण काल की प्रादेशिक विशिष्टताओं की रूपरेखा प्रस्तुत कीजिए और उनका कारण भी बताइए।
|
Structure: (i) Introduction: Provide an overview of the Neolithic period in India, covering its time frame and key characteristics. (ii) Main Body: Discuss the major Neolithic sites and their geographical locations, highlighting significant discoveries. (iii) Conclusion: Emphasize the cultural and regional diversity evident across Neolithic India within the broader Indian subcontinent. |
Introduction:
The Neolithic period in India, roughly spanning from around 7000 BCE to 2000 BCE, witnessed the transition from a hunting and gathering lifestyle to settled agriculture. The significance of Neolithic lies in the coming of agriculture, the sedentary lifestyle, pottery for storage, increased population with availability of food and rest to pregnant females thus few scholars regard this as revolution.
Regional characteristics during this period were influenced by geographic, climatic, and ecological factors, resulting in distinct Neolithic cultures across India:
(i) Northwestern India (Balochistan): The Mehrgarh site in Balochistan is one of the earliest Neolithic settlements in the Indian subcontinent. It featured mud-brick houses, pottery, and evidence of crop cultivation, suggesting a transition to agricultural life. The region’s proximity to the fertile plains of the Indus River contributed to its early agricultural developments.
(ii) Indus Valley: The Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations emerged during the later Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. Amalananda Ghosh and M.R. Mughal extensively studied the pre- Harappan phase.
(iii) South India (Tamil Nadu): The Neolithic period in South India is characterised by the Ashmounds culture. People constructed burial mounds known as ashmounds, reflecting their agrarian lifestyle. Rice cultivation played a significant role in this region, facilitated by the monsoon climate. Eg. Utnur, Pallavoy, Kodekal.
(iv) Eastern India (Bihar and West Bengal): The Chirand and Senuwar cultures are prominent in this region. People practiced both agriculture and fishing, given the proximity to the Ganges and its tributaries. Pottery and tools were crafted, showcasing their technological advancements.
(v) Central India (Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh): The Bhimbetka rock shelters provide evidence of early human habitation. People in this region practised hunting, gathering, and later, agriculture. Cave paintings in Bhimbetka depict their daily life and the fauna of the time.
(vi) Deccan Plateau (Maharashtra and Karnataka): The Neolithic cultures of the Deccan Plateau were known for their distinctive megalithic burials. People constructed stone circles and dolmens for burial purposes. Agriculture and animal husbandry were practiced, with millet cultivation being significant. Some scholars have argued the neolithic people traded with the Harappans as they provided them with Gold from Kolar.
Conclusion:
These regional characteristics of the Neolithic period in India underscore the diversity of cultural adaptations and lifestyles that emerged across different ecological zones. The transition to agriculture and sedentary life marked a pivotal phase in India’s history, shaping the foundation for the subsequent development of complex societies and civilizations in the subcontinent.
