Paleolithic Age in India

Paleolithic Age in India

The first evidence of the Stone Age culture in India surfaced in Karnataka as early as in 1842 when Dr. Primrose discovered polished stone knives and arrow heads at Lingsugur in Raichur district of Karnataka.

But the systematic exploration of pre-historic sites was conducted by Robert Bruce Foote of the Geological Survey of India, who has been rightly regarded as the Father of Indian Pre-History. The first person to publish an account of the worked flints was John Evans. Most Paleolithic sites in India developed in the Pleistocene period. The tools made were of hard rock quartzite so the Paleolithic man was called Quartzite Man.

The term Paleolithic was coined by archaeologist John Lubbock in 1865. It literally means "Old Stone Age."
It was marked by the hunting gathering nature. Paleolithic Age spanned from 100000 years ago till 10000 years ago. It is divided into 3 ages viz. lower Paleolithic age which spans till 100000 years ago. Middle Paleolithic which spans from 100000 years ago till 40000 years and upper Paleolithic which spans from 40,000 years to 10000 years ago.

Paleolithic tools were club, sharpened stone, chopper, hand axe, scraper, spear, Bow and arrow, harpoon, needle, scratch awl etc.
 

Important paleolithic sites in India:

• Lingsugur in Raichur district, karnataka (first site to be discovered)

• Lidder river Pahalgam , Kashmir

• Sohan valley Punjab,

• Banks of River Beas, Bangagnga

• Sirsa Haryana,

• Chittorgarh and Kota, Rajasthan,

• River Wagoon, Kadamali basins Rajasthan.

• River Sabaramati and Mahi basins (Rajasthan & Gujarat),

• Basins of river tapti, Godavari, Bhima and Krishna

• Koregaon, Chandoli and shikarpur (Maharashtra),

• River Raro (Jharkhand),

• River Suvarnrekha (Orissa),

• Ghatprabha River Basin (Karnataka).

• Pahalgam , Jammu & Kashmir

• Belan Valley, Allahabad

• Sinsgi Talav, Nagaur Rajasthan

• Hunsgi, Gulbarga in karnataka.

• Attirampakkam in Tamilnadu.

Bhimbetka Rock Shelters: Bhimbetka rock shelters are located in Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh, 45 km south of Bhopal at the southern edge of the Vindhyachal hills. These served as shelters for Paleolithic age man for more than 1 lakh years. This is the most exclusive Paleolithic site in India which contains the rock carvings and paintings. These paintings belong to the Paleolithic, Mesolithic ages, Chalcolithic, early-historic and even medieval times. Bhimbetka is a World heritage Site.

Please note that it was earlier considered to be a Buddhist site and was later recognized as Paleolithic site by Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar who is now also called "father of rock art in India ". Bhimbetka Rock shelters were included in the world heritage list in 1970.