Ancient Indian History : Quick Revision (Part 1) - UPSC PDF Download

Lower Paleolithic

Hand axe & cleaver industries

Pahalgam, Belan valley (U.P),

(600,000 – 60,000 BC)

Bhimbetka, Adamgarh, 16 R Singi Talav

Middle Paleolithic

Tools made on flakes

Bhimbetka, Nevasa, Pushkar, Rohiri

(150,000 – 40,000 BC)

hills of upper sind

Upper Paleolithic

Tools made on flakes & blades

Rajasthan, Parts of Belan & Ganga

(45,000 – 10,000 BC)

Valley (U.P).

Mesolithic/ Microlithic

Parallel sided blades of chert,

Bagor (Raj), Langhnaj (Guj), Sarai

(10,000 – 7000 BC)

chalcedony, jasper, agate

Nahar Rai, Chaopani Mando, Mahdaha,

Damdama (U.P), Bhimbetka, Adamgarh.

Neolithic

Earthern pots

Mehrgarh (Pak) Gufkral & Burzahom

(8000 BC – 2000 BC)

(J&K), Mahgara, Chopani Mando,

Kodihwa in Belan Valley (U.P.) Chirand

(Bihar).

Chalcolithic

Distinct painted pottery

Cultures: Ahar culture (oldest), Kayatha,

(3000-900 B.C.)

Fire worship widespread.

Malwa culture, Salvada culture, ,

Prabhas culture, Rangpur culture &

Jorwe culture (newest).

Copper Hoard Culture

Harpoons, Antennae swords,

Gungeria (M.P-largest)

Anthromorphs

OCP Culture

Pottery with bright red slip &

All over gangetic plain with same

(Ochre coloured pottery)

painted in black.

regions as that of copper hoard culture.

•Ahar people (Aravalli region) - distinctive black & red ware decorated with white designs.

•Prabhas & Rangpur wares have a glossy suface due to which they are called lusturous red ware.

•Jorwe culture (Maharashtra) - painted black on red but has a matt surface treated with a wash.

Select Harrapan Cities (Chalcolithic Age)

1.

Harappa

Great granary, 40 % of total seals found here; Seals usually made of steatite

[Dayaram Sahni]

depicting elephant, bull, unicorn, rhinoceros; figurines - torso

2.

Mohenjodaro

“Mound of the dead”; largest of all cities; Great Bath; granary; city was

[R.D Banerjee]

flooded occasionally, figurines of yogi, bronze dancing girl, seal bearing

Pashupati.

3.

Lothal

[S.R. Rao]. Earliest cultivation of rice; Fire altars

4.

Kalibangan

[A. Ghosh]. Fire Altars showing cult sacrifice;

5.

Dholavira,

[R.S. Bisht]

6.

Banwali

[R.S. Bisht] Fire Altars;

7.

Mehrgarh

Evidences of cotton;