The Neolithic Period, commonly known as the New Stone Age, signifies a pivotal era marked by the onset of agriculture, the establishment of permanent settlements, and the development of polished stone tools. In the Indian subcontinent, this transformative period stretched from approximately 7000 BCE to 1000 BCE.
Farming in India commenced as early communities transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle of hunting and gathering to the domestication of plants and animals. This transition involved cultivating essential crops such as wheat, barley, and lentils, alongside the domestication of animals like cattle and sheep. The earliest evidence of such agricultural practices is traced back to sites like Mehrgarh, located in present-day Pakistan.
India is home to several key Neolithic sites that provide crucial insights into early agricultural practices. Noteworthy sites include Mehrgarh, Burzahom in Kashmir, Chirand in Bihar, and Utnur in Andhra Pradesh. These locations offer evidence of early farming techniques, pottery development, and animal domestication.
Neolithic communities in India typically resided in small, semi-permanent or permanent villages. Their lifestyle predominantly revolved around farming, with some communities engaging in mixed farming, which included both crop cultivation and animal husbandry. They also advanced in the art of pottery, crafted and utilized polished stone tools, and began communal living in mud-brick or wattle-and-daub houses.
The agricultural breakthroughs during the Neolithic Period laid the groundwork for the emergence of larger settlements and urban centers. The agricultural surplus facilitated trade, the division of labor, and the evolution of complex societies. These developments eventually paved the way for the flourishing of the Indus Valley Civilization.
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