The widespread use of microliths and early signs of domestication in India are characteristic of which prehistoric phase?
- ((a))
Paleolithic
- ((b))
Mesolithic
- ((c))
Neolithic
- ((d))
Chalcolithic
Show Answer
Mesolithic
The correct answer is Mesolithic.

Key Points
- The Mesolithic Age, also known as the Middle Stone Age, served as a transitional phase between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, dating roughly from 10,000 BC to 6,000 BC in the Indian context.
- The hallmark of this period is the production of Microliths, which are very small stone tools ranging from 1 cm to 5 cm in length, typically made of materials like chert, agate, and carnelian.
- These microliths were often geometric in shape (trapezes, lunates, triangles) and were used as components for composite tools such as spearheads and arrowheads, reflecting an advancement in hunting technology.
- This era witnessed the earliest signs of domestication of animals in India. Excavations at Bagor in Rajasthan and Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh provide significant zooarchaeological evidence of domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats.
- The period coincided with the onset of the Holocene epoch, characterized by a warmer and more humid climate, which led to a proliferation of flora and fauna and encouraged humans to move into new ecological niches.

Additional Information
- Paleolithic:
- Characterized by the use of large, unpolished stone tools like hand-axes, choppers, and cleavers.
- Humans were primarily hunter-gatherers and lived in a nomadic state during the Pleistocene ice age.
- Neolithic:
- Defined by the beginning of sedentary life, systematic agriculture, and the production of polished stone tools.
- Introduction of pottery and the wheel occurred during this phase, with key sites like Mehrgarh and Burzahom.
- Chalcolithic:
- This was the Copper-Stone Age, marking the first use of metal (copper) alongside stone tools.
- It saw the emergence of organized rural settlements and distinct ceramic traditions like the Malwa and Jorwe cultures.




































































