The classification of these cultures is done on the basis of stratigraphic, chronological and lithic (stone tool) evidence.

Neolithic age is the age in which animal and plant domestication developed, leading to food production.

The period before the invention of script is broadly divided into Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age.

1. It is the only existing fossil find of human ancestors in India.
2. The only well-known hominin fossil of India was found at Hathnora near Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh.

Palaeolithic period is divided into
1. Lower Palaeolithic culture
2. Middle Palaeolithic culture
3. Upper Palaeolithic culture.

The source for the study of pre-historic period include archaeological sites, geological sediments, animal bones and fossils, stone tools, bone tools, rock paintings and artefacts.

Flake industry was predominant in the Middle Palaeolithic period and tools such as scrapers, points and borers were made. Scrapers were used for wood and skin working.

The early Acheulian tools include polyhedrons, spheroids, hand axes, cleavers and flake tools.

1. Wild plants and animals grow naturally and independently.
2. When they are domesticated, their lifestyle and physical characteristics (such as self-propagation) change.
3. The seeds of domestic plants become smaller in size. In the case of domesticated animals, they lose their ferociousness.

Mesolithic sites in India are found in Paisra (Bihar), Langhnaj (Gujarat), Baghor II, Chopani Mando, Sarai Nahar Rai, Mahadaha and Damdama (all in Uttar Pradesh), Sankanakallu and Kibbanahalli (Karnataka). Rock shelter sites are found in Lekhakia, Baghai Khor, Adamgarh and Bhimbetka.

The Middle Palaeolithic culture in India is dated between 3,85,000 and 40,000 BCE.
1. The Middle Palaeolithic sites are found in Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, Yamuna and other river valleys.
2. The main features of the Indian Middle Palaeolithic period include the following:
3. The tools became smaller.
4. The decrease in the use of hand axes in relation to other tools.
5. Use of core preparation techniques in stone tool production.
6. Use of chert, jasper, chalcedony and quartz as raw materials.

Based on research, two independent cultural traditions of hand axe (Acheulian) and pebble-flake (Sohanian) industries were, confirmed in India. Acheulian industry mainly had hand axes and cleavers.
1. The Sohan industry is considered to have used only chopper and chopping tools.
2. The Sohan industry gets its name from the Sohan river valley of Pakistan.
3. These two cultural traditions are not considered distinct any longer.
4. Recent studies argue that there was no independent Sohan tradition as Acheulian tools are found in the Sohan industry as well.

1. An interesting find is of a possible shrine, indicated by a block of sandstone surrounded by a rubble circle, similar to the contemporary shrines. Found at Baghor in Uttar Pradesh, it is the earliest known evidence of a shrine in India.
Write a note on Mesolithic sites in India
Mesolithic sites in India are found in Paisra (Bihar), Langhnaj (Gujarat), Baghor II, Chopani Mando, Sarai Nahar Rai, Mahadaha and Damdama (all in Uttar Pradesh), Sankanakallu and Kibbanahalli (Karnataka). Rock shelter sites are found in Lekhakia, Baghai Khor, Adamgarh and Bhimbetka. Coastal sites are seen at Mumbai, Teri sites of Thoothukudyin TamilNadu and Vishakapatnam, which have microlithic evidence.
Give a evidence for the farnaul.
1. The faunal evidence from this period shows that people belonging to this period hunted cattle, gaur, buffalo, barasingha, porcupines, sambar, chital, gazelle, hog deer, nilgai, jackal, turtle, fish, wild hare, lizard fox and monitor lizard. Bones of rhinoceros and elephant have also been found. They used spears, bow and arrow and traps. The paintings of Bhimbetka show that various animals were hunted and for this men and women went together.
2. The people used fire and perhaps roasted food. Domestic animal bones of cattle, sheep, goats, pig and dog have been found at Kanewal, Loteshwar and Ratanpur, and from Adamgarh and Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh sites. Camel bones have been found from Kanewal.
Write a note on Early Dentistry in the Neolithic Mehrgarh
1. The human ancestors had knowledge of medicinal herbs and were capable of taking care of health for survival from the pre-historic times. As their ways of life changed, new diseases appeared and they had to find remedies.
2. From the Neolithic period, people began to eat ground grain and cooked food, which caused dental and other health problems. The earliest evidence for drilling human tooth (of a living person) has been found at Mehrgarh. It is seen as a prelude to dentistry.
Write an note on Geographical Area and the Settlements
The Indus civilisation and the contemporary cultures covered nearly 1.5 million sq. km area in India and Pakistan. The settlements of Sutkagen-dor in the west on the Pakistan- Iran border; Shortugai (Afghanistan) in the north; Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh; India) in the east and Daimabad (Maharashtra, India) in the south are the boundaries of this civilisation. Its core area was in the regions of Pakistan, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana.
Write an note on Indus Civilisation and Tamil Civilisation
1. The Indus Civilisation represents the first urbanisation of Indian history.
2. The origin and authorship of the Indus Civilisation are keenly debated historical questions. The Indus script has not yet been conclusively deciphered and hence the authorship is not certain. The graffiti found on the megalithic burial pots of South India and the place names presented are cited to establish the relationship between Indus and Tamil cultures.
3. The archaeological evidence points to several groups of people living in Tamil Nadu and South India continuously from the Mesolithic period. One cannot rule out the migration of a few groups from the Indus region. More research is necessary before arriving at any definite conclusion.
4. The towns of ancient Tamizhagam such as Arikamedu, Keezhadi and Uraiyur that flourished are part of the second urbanisation of India and these towns are quite different from the Indus cities.
 

The period before the development of script is called the pre-historic times. It is also referred to as the Stone Age.
1. Human ancestors are likely to have first evolved in Africa and later migrated to different parts of the world.
2. The earliest human ancestor species to migrate out of Africa was the Homo erectus.
3. Generally, the period before the invention of script is broadly divided into Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age.
4. The earliest age in history is called Old Stone Age or Palaeolithic.
5. This period is divided into
6. Lower Palaeolithic culture
7. Middle Palaeolithic culture
8. Upper Palaeolithic culture.
9. The period after the Old Stone Age (Palaeolithic) is called the Mesolithic Age.
10. The period that followed the Mesolithic is called the Neolithic Age.
11. This is the age in which animal and plant domestication developed, leading to food production.

The planned towns of Harappa
1. A civic authority perhaps controlled the planning of the towns.
2. The Harappans used baked and unbaked bricks, and stones for construction.
3. The towns had a grid pattern and drainages were systematically built.
4. The houses were built of mud bricks while the drainages were built with burnt bricks.
5. Houses had more than one floor.
The planned towns of Mohenjo-Daro
1. The site of Mohenjo-Daro had a planned town, built on a platform.
2. It has two distinct areas.
3. One is identified as a citadel and another as the lower town.
4. The houses had bathrooms paved with burnt bricks and proper drains.
5. Some houses had stairs indicating the existence of an upper floor.
6. The houses had multiple rooms. 
7. Many of the houses had a central courtyard with rooms all around.