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Ancient History (Udaan) > PALAEOLITHIC AGE (Early History) > Flashcards

PALAEOLITHIC AGE (Early History) Flashcards

(65 cards)

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1
Q

What does “Palaeolithic” mean?

A

Old Stone Age

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2
Q

When did the Palaeolithic Age begin and end?

A

3.3 million years ago to 11,650 BP

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3
Q

Where did the first human ancestors likely evolve?

A

Africa

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4
Q

Which ancestor species first migrated out of Africa?

A

Homo erectus

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5
Q

What type of shelter did early humans use?

A

Caves and rock shelters

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6
Q

What were the Palaeolithic people’s main activities?

A

Hunting and gathering

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7
Q

Did they use fire?

A

Yes, later in the period

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8
Q

What materials were used for tools?

A

Unpolished stones like hand axes and cleavers

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9
Q

Why were they called “Quartzite men” in India?

A

They used quartzite for tools

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10
Q

How many phases does the Palaeolithic Age have?

A

Three

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11
Q

What are the names of these phases?

A

Lower, Middle, Upper

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12
Q

What is the date range for the Lower Palaeolithic Age?

A

200,000 - 60,000 BP

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13
Q

What is the date range for the Middle Palaeolithic Age?

A

385,000 - 40,000 BP

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14
Q

What is the date range for the Upper Palaeolithic Age?

A

40,000 - 10,000 BP

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15
Q

When did the Lower Palaeolithic Age occur in India?

A

200,000 - 60,000 BP

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16
Q

Which ancestor species is believed to have lived in India during this time?

A

Homo erectus

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17
Q

Where was the oldest hominin fossil found in India discovered?

A

Narmada Valley, Madhya Pradesh

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18
Q

What is the name of this fossil?

A

Narmada Man (or Sivapithecus sivalensis)

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19
Q

What species does it represent?

A

Archaic Homo sapiens

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20
Q

Is this the only fossil find of human ancestors in India?

A

Yes

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21
Q

What does this fossil provide evidence of?

A

Early human presence in India

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22
Q

Where are Lower Palaeolithic tools found in India?

A

Most regions except parts of the Ganges valley, southern Tamil Nadu, and the Western Ghats

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23
Q

Name some prominent Lower Palaeolithic sites in India.

A

River Soan Valley (Punjab), Belan Valley (UP), Athirampakkam (Chennai), Hunsgi Valley (Karnataka), Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh)

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24
Q

What was the primary occupation of the early humans in this period?

A

Hunting and gathering (nomadic lifestyle)

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25
What did they hunt and gather?
Animals, roots, nuts, and fruits
26
What are some examples of animals found in the Narmada Valley and Attirampakkam?
Elephants (giant tusked, Stegodon), wild cattle, extinct horse-like animals, water buffalo, nilgai
27
Where did they live?
Caves and rock shelters near river valleys (Bhimbetka, Gudiyam)
28
How complex was their language compared to Homo sapiens?
Less complex, possibly few sounds/words and sign language
29
Did they use fire?
Evidence is inconclusive but likely not widespread during this period
30
When and where were the first Palaeolithic tools discovered in India?
In 1863, at Pallavaram near Chennai by Robert Bruce Foote.
31
What types of tools were common during this period?
Hand axes, choppers, and cleaver axes (similar to those found in other parts of the world).
32
What can the physical symmetry of these tools tell us?
It suggests advanced cognitive skills and perception abilities in early humans.
33
What are the two distinct technological traditions of the Early Palaeolithic Age?
Acheulian and Sohanian
34
What type of tools did the Sohanian tradition use?
Primarily choppers and chopping tools.
35
Where is the Sohanian tradition mainly found?
Northwestern India, named after the Sohan River valley in Pakistan.
36
What types of tools did the Acheulian tradition use?
Hand axes and cleavers predominantly.
37
Where are Acheulian sites found in India?
Across various parts of India, especially Central India and the southeastern region (near Chennai).
38
Why are Acheulian sites not found in certain areas?
They are absent in the Western Ghats, coastal areas, and northeastern India due to heavy rainfall that might have eroded evidence.
39
What are the two key characteristics of the Middle Palaeolithic Age?
Changes in lithic technology and divergence of human ancestor species due to behavioral modernity.
40
Who first identified this phase in India and where?
H.D. Sankalia at Nevasa on the Pravara River (Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra).
41
Compare the association of the Middle Stone Age with human species in Africa and Europe.
In Africa, it's associated with Homo sapiens, while in Europe, it's associated with Neanderthals.
42
Why is no hominin fossil bone evidence found in India during this period?
The evidence might be missing due to erosion or incomplete exploration.
43
When and where did Neanderthals live?
They lived in Eurasia from approximately 400,000 to 40,000 years ago.
44
How were Neanderthals related to modern humans?
They were a species of archaic humans closely related to modern humans, sharing a common ancestor.
45
In which areas of India are Middle Palaeolithic sites found?
Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, Yamuna areas, south of the Tungabhadra River, and Soan River Valley.
46
What type of lifestyle did the human ancestors have during this period?
They were hunter-gatherers living in open-air, cave, and rock shelter sites.
47
What were the prominent tools used in the Middle Palaeolithic Age?
Hand axes, cleavers, choppers, chopping tools, scrapers, projectile points, knives on flakes.
48
How did the tools differ from the Early Palaeolithic era?
There was a decrease in hand axe use, tools became smaller, and the flake industry with scrapers, points, and borers became prominent.
49
What materials were used to make Middle Palaeolithic tools?
Chert, jasper, chalcedony, and quartz.
50
When did the Upper Palaeolithic Age occur in India?
From 40,000 to 10,000 years ago.
51
Where did modern humans evolve and when did they reach Asia?
Modern humans evolved in Africa around 300,000 years ago and reached Asia by 60,000 years ago.
52
What two things mark the Upper Palaeolithic Age?
Innovation in tool technology and increased cognitive capability in humans.
53
Name three sites in South India where Upper Palaeolithic remains have been found.
Meralbhavi in Karnataka, Kurnool caves in Andhra Pradesh, and Godavarikhani in Telangana.
54
Where are the Baghor I and Baghor III sites located?
Son Valley in Madhya Pradesh.
55
In which other states have Upper Palaeolithic sites been found?
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh.
56
What did people of the Upper Palaeolithic Age use for shelter?
Caves and open-air spaces.
57
What forms of art appeared in the Upper Palaeolithic Age?
Paintings, beads, and ornaments.
58
Which site has some of the oldest green colour paintings from this period?
Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh.
59
Where have incised ostrich eggshells, shell beads, and stone beads been found?
Jwalapuram in Andhra Pradesh and Patne in Maharashtra.
60
Where is the earliest known shrine in India located?
Baghor, Uttar Pradesh.
61
What does the shrine-like structure resemble?
A block of sandstone surrounded by a rubble circle, similar to contemporary shrines.
62
What were the two main types of tools used in the Upper Palaeolithic Age?
Blade tools and bone tools.
63
Where have bone tools and faunal remains been found?
Kurnool caves in Andhra Pradesh.
64
What new type of tool was introduced in this period?
Microliths, tiny stone tools made from various silica-rich materials.
65
How do the ostrich eggshells from Bhimbetka and Patne provide information about the age of the paintings?
They can be carbon-dated to give an absolute date for the layer in which they were found, thus helping to date the associated paintings.

Ancient History (Udaan) (5 decks)

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