Bhimbetka caves show the continuity of human evolution from the Lower...
- In the caves, the continuity of human evolution from the Lower Palaeolithic period is noticed by the smaller stone tools in the following Middle Palaeolithic period besides new tools like scrapers. During the Upper Palaeolithic period, newer tool types like blades, borers and burins had also emerged.
- However, in the Mesolithic period, there is a clear change in the materials and tool typology.
- Earlier, the tools were largely made of quartzite and sandstone, whereas the tools being made in the Mesolithic period were most often of chalcedony.
- The Mesolithic culture at Bhimbetka continued much longer as understood by Chalcolithic potteries in otherwise Mesolithic contexts.
- By the Early Historic times, it appears that interaction with the surrounding cultures became more pronounced.
- Rock-cut beds evidence this in a rock shelter on the top portion of an inselberg-like outcrop not far from the later built temple at this site.
- Shankhalipi or 'shell-script' is a prevalent term amongst scholars and refers to the ornate spiral Brahmi characters that resemble conch shells (or shankhas). They date as far as 4lh to 8lh century BCE and are popularly described in inscriptions across India except far south.
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Bhimbetka caves show the continuity of human evolution from the Lower...
The correct answer is option 'A' which means only statement 1 is correct.
Explanation:
Bhimbetka caves are located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh in India. These caves are an archaeological site and contain evidence of human habitation and artistic activities from the lower Paleolithic period to the Mesolithic period to the Chalcolithic period. Let's understand why statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is incorrect.
1. It contains evidence of the use of tools and implements from all these periods.
The Bhimbetka caves contain a large number of rock shelters that have evidence of human habitation from different periods. Archaeological excavations and studies have revealed that these caves were inhabited by humans from the Lower Paleolithic period (about 30,000 years ago) to the Mesolithic period (about 10,000 years ago) and to the Chalcolithic period (about 2,500 years ago).
The Lower Paleolithic period is characterized by the use of hand axes, cleavers, and choppers made of stone. The Middle and Upper Paleolithic period saw the use of blades, scrapers, and burins. During the Mesolithic period, microliths and bone tools were used. In the Chalcolithic period, copper and bronze tools were used.
The Bhimbetka caves contain evidence of the use of tools and implements from all these periods. This continuity of human evolution from the Lower Paleolithic period to the Mesolithic period to the Chalcolithic period is evident in the tools and implements found in these caves.
2. There are a large number of Shankhalipi inscriptions in the Bhimbetka cluster of rock shelters.
This statement is incorrect. Shankhalipi inscriptions are not found in the Bhimbetka caves. Shankhalipi is a type of ancient Indian script that was used to write Sanskrit and Prakrit languages. These inscriptions are found in other archaeological sites in India, but not in Bhimbetka caves.
In conclusion, the Bhimbetka caves show the continuity of human evolution from the Lower Paleolithic period to the Mesolithic period to the Chalcolithic period because it contains evidence of the use of tools and implements from all these periods.
Bhimbetka caves show the continuity of human evolution from the Lower...
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