The Sangam Age | History for UPSC 2025 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


The Sangam Age
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The Sangam Age
Chronology
Page 3


The Sangam Age
Chronology The Megalithic Cultures of South India
Chronologically, the Southern Neolithic is broadly placed between 3300 B.C.E. and 1400 B.C.E.
The Southern Neolithic is slightly later in date when compared with the Neolithic in Baluchistan 
(7000 B.C.E.- ) and it is a late contemporary of the Mature Harappan period it stands out 
because of its distinct characteristics.
The neolithic phase of south India, which was highlighted by the use of polished stone axe and 
blade tools, was succeeded by the Megalithic cultures (1200 BCE–300 BCE)
Megaliths were tomb spots consisting of burials or graves covered with huge (mega) stones. 
They were, in most cases, located outside the settlement area. 
These Megalith burials have yielded the first iron objects from south India. 
Besides these the use of Black and Red ware pottery was also a distinctive feature of the 
Megalithic people.
Page 4


The Sangam Age
Chronology The Megalithic Cultures of South India
Chronologically, the Southern Neolithic is broadly placed between 3300 B.C.E. and 1400 B.C.E.
The Southern Neolithic is slightly later in date when compared with the Neolithic in Baluchistan 
(7000 B.C.E.- ) and it is a late contemporary of the Mature Harappan period it stands out 
because of its distinct characteristics.
The neolithic phase of south India, which was highlighted by the use of polished stone axe and 
blade tools, was succeeded by the Megalithic cultures (1200 BCE–300 BCE)
Megaliths were tomb spots consisting of burials or graves covered with huge (mega) stones. 
They were, in most cases, located outside the settlement area. 
These Megalith burials have yielded the first iron objects from south India. 
Besides these the use of Black and Red ware pottery was also a distinctive feature of the 
Megalithic people.
Megalithic burial site in Devandlapalli in Kadapa district
Page 5


The Sangam Age
Chronology The Megalithic Cultures of South India
Chronologically, the Southern Neolithic is broadly placed between 3300 B.C.E. and 1400 B.C.E.
The Southern Neolithic is slightly later in date when compared with the Neolithic in Baluchistan 
(7000 B.C.E.- ) and it is a late contemporary of the Mature Harappan period it stands out 
because of its distinct characteristics.
The neolithic phase of south India, which was highlighted by the use of polished stone axe and 
blade tools, was succeeded by the Megalithic cultures (1200 BCE–300 BCE)
Megaliths were tomb spots consisting of burials or graves covered with huge (mega) stones. 
They were, in most cases, located outside the settlement area. 
These Megalith burials have yielded the first iron objects from south India. 
Besides these the use of Black and Red ware pottery was also a distinctive feature of the 
Megalithic people.
Megalithic burial site in Devandlapalli in Kadapa district
The Megalithic Cultures of South India
Prominent sites that have yielded Megalith graves include Brahmagiri, Maski (Karnataka), 
Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh, Adichallanur (Tamilnadu) and Junapani near Nagpur 
(Maharastra). 
Identical iron tools have been found universally from all the Megalith graves. 
These tools which indicate their craft activities and include arrowheads, daggers, swords, 
spearheads, tridents, battle axe, hoes, ploughshares, sickles etc. 
These artefacts, along with the food grains such as wheat, rice etc., found at various megalithic 
sites indicate that the megalithic people followed for their livelihood agro-pastoral and hunting 
activities.