Early humans history part 1 means this post discussion, What is the earliest human history in early humans.
Humans have evolved greatly through the millions of years that mark their existence on earth. In the early stages, they were hunter gatherers and nomads. Always on the move, they travelled from one place to another in search of food, water and shelter. They hunted wild animals and gathered fruits, roots, nuts and seeds. When the resources of plant and animal food got exhausted in one area, they moved to another.
Early humans lived a primitive life. They did not wear anything during summers. During the winter season, they used animal skins, the barks of trees and leaves to keep themselves warm. Nights were generally spent up in trees, or in caves and rock shelters.
 |
| Major sites of early humans in india |
The stone age
The stone age can be divided into three period of study, based on the type and quality of stone tools that early humans used.Palaeolithic or old stone age:
Mesolithic or Middle stone age
Palaeo means old meso means middle and neo means new. Lithic has been derived from the Greek word lithos which means stone.
Neolithic or new stone age:
this period lasted from about 8000 BCE till about 4000 BCE. The new stone age tools were a further improvement on the earlier variety of tools. These tools were much sharper than the ones used in the Mesolithic period. They were also polished to sparkle. A large number of axes, sickles, spears and arrowheads have been found from Neolithic sites in india and other parts of the world.
Site
Evidences of hunter-gatherers have been discovered at many places. Generally, these evidences are in the form of stone tools, some finished and some unfinished. These places are called sites. A few sites have been marked out in the map on this page. You will notice that some of them are near rivers. Humans generally settled close to rivers so that they could get a sufficient supply of water.To do:
 |
| Early humans lived in caves and in rock shelters. |
try to find out a few more sites in india, where early humans settled. Mark and label them on a separate map.
Humans make tools
A large number of tools belonging to the three stone age periods have been found at many places. Most of them are of stone, since stone was easily available.In the beginning, humans searched for stones which could be used as tools. Later, they which could be used as tools. Later, they started making crude stone tools for specific needs. Flint, a type of stone, was widely used to make tools and weapons. Since flint chips easily, it could be moulded into different shapes easily. Early humans chopped flint and and other stones till they acquired the desired shape.
Both big and small stones were used to make tools and weapons. The bigger ones were shaped into axe-heads, hummers and choppers. The axe-head was tied to a stick which made it a more efficient tools. The smaller pieces of stone were sharpened and used as knives and scrapers. Still smaller stones were given a sharp point and tied to arrows and spears. These were used to hunt animals.
Techniques of tool making:
Earley humans used two techniques to make stone tools.
1. Stone on stone -
in this, the stone to be shaped into a tools was held in one hand. Another stone was held in the other hand. The second stone was used to strike the first, till the first stone acquired the desired shape.
2. Pressure flacking -
in this, the stone to be chipped was placed on a firm surface such as a rock. A stone sharpened from one end was kept on the first stone. Then another stone was struck hard on the blunt surface of the second stone. This was done till the first stone was of the desired shape.
Uses:
Humans discover fire
One day the greatest discoveries made by early humans was fire. It will never be known how it happened. Perhaps two flints were rubbed togather accidentally and the sparks fell on some dry leaves lying nearby. Or perhaps lighting struck a tree, and it went up in flames. Over a period of the time, humans learned the uses of fire. It provided light and kept them warm. Early humans kept a fire burning at the entrance of their caves to scare alway wild animals. They also found that fire could be used to cook. This may have happened accidentally. A piece of raw meat might have fallen into fire and got roasted. It would have tasted good, and humans may have started cooking their food after that.Early rock painting
Many caves have painting on their walls. Early humans perhaps painting these to express their feelings. They may also have been done on ceremonial occasions. Can you think of other reasons? |
| A prehistoric rock painting from the rock shelter at bhimbetka. |
Bhimbetka : Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh is famous for prehistoric rock painting. There are over 750 rock shelters here, nearly 500 of which have paintings. The paintings depict scenes from everyday life - of men hunting (either alone or in groups), riding, dancing, performance religious rituals; of women grinding and preparing food; of children running, jumping, playing and so on. A large number of animals have also been painted, most of them in great detail.
The colours used in the paintings are red, green, white and ochre. The paints were perhaps made by grinding various rocks and minerals till they became powder. They were then mixed with water and some sticky substance, such as reain from trees.
The deccan
My prehistoric sites have been excavated in the deccan. Some of these are in bori, morgaon, chirki-Nevasa, Isampur, Gunore, Saswad nasre, yedurwadi and attirrampakkam. All these sites are characterized by the discovery of stone tools - hand-axes, choppers, cleavers and scrapers, among other tools.The Hunsgi and Baichbal valley in the Deccan also have many stone age sites. If both the large and the small ones are taken into account, the number would cross 200. Many finished and unfinished stone tools have been found here. It appears that early humans lived here over a very long period of time.
The stone tools found from the prehistoric sites of the Deccan are an important link with the past. Archaeologists are studying these tools carefully to find out how they were used. Un this way they would be able to understand how early humans lived, what they ate and how they overcame the harsh living conditions of those times.
To sum up
2. The stone age is divided into three periods -- old, Middle and new stone age.
3. Early humans made tools of stone. They chipped stones so that could be used as tools. These stone tools were used for different task.
4. The discovery of fire made life easier.
5. Early humans painted on cave walls and in rock shelters. Bhimbetka has many such paintings.
6. Hunsgi is an important prehistoric site in the Deccan. A large number of stone tools have been discovered here.
Early humans history part 1 means this post discussion, What is the earliest human history in early humans.
Humans have evolved greatly through the millions of years that mark their existence on earth. In the early stages, they were hunter gatherers and nomads. Always on the move, they travelled from one place to another in search of food, water and shelter. They hunted wild animals and gathered fruits, roots, nuts and seeds. When the resources of plant and animal food got exhausted in one area, they moved to another.
Early humans lived a primitive life. They did not wear anything during summers. During the winter season, they used animal skins, the barks of trees and leaves to keep themselves warm. Nights were generally spent up in trees, or in caves and rock shelters.
|
| Major sites of early humans in india |
The stone age
The stone age can be divided into three period of study, based on the type and quality of stone tools that early humans used.Palaeolithic or old stone age:
Mesolithic or Middle stone age
Palaeo means old meso means middle and neo means new. Lithic has been derived from the Greek word lithos which means stone.
Neolithic or new stone age:
this period lasted from about 8000 BCE till about 4000 BCE. The new stone age tools were a further improvement on the earlier variety of tools. These tools were much sharper than the ones used in the Mesolithic period. They were also polished to sparkle. A large number of axes, sickles, spears and arrowheads have been found from Neolithic sites in india and other parts of the world.
Site
Evidences of hunter-gatherers have been discovered at many places. Generally, these evidences are in the form of stone tools, some finished and some unfinished. These places are called sites. A few sites have been marked out in the map on this page. You will notice that some of them are near rivers. Humans generally settled close to rivers so that they could get a sufficient supply of water.To do:
|
| Early humans lived in caves and in rock shelters. |
try to find out a few more sites in india, where early humans settled. Mark and label them on a separate map.
Humans make tools
A large number of tools belonging to the three stone age periods have been found at many places. Most of them are of stone, since stone was easily available.In the beginning, humans searched for stones which could be used as tools. Later, they which could be used as tools. Later, they started making crude stone tools for specific needs. Flint, a type of stone, was widely used to make tools and weapons. Since flint chips easily, it could be moulded into different shapes easily. Early humans chopped flint and and other stones till they acquired the desired shape.
Both big and small stones were used to make tools and weapons. The bigger ones were shaped into axe-heads, hummers and choppers. The axe-head was tied to a stick which made it a more efficient tools. The smaller pieces of stone were sharpened and used as knives and scrapers. Still smaller stones were given a sharp point and tied to arrows and spears. These were used to hunt animals.
Techniques of tool making:
Earley humans used two techniques to make stone tools.
1. Stone on stone -
in this, the stone to be shaped into a tools was held in one hand. Another stone was held in the other hand. The second stone was used to strike the first, till the first stone acquired the desired shape.
2. Pressure flacking -
in this, the stone to be chipped was placed on a firm surface such as a rock. A stone sharpened from one end was kept on the first stone. Then another stone was struck hard on the blunt surface of the second stone. This was done till the first stone was of the desired shape.
Uses:
Humans discover fire
One day the greatest discoveries made by early humans was fire. It will never be known how it happened. Perhaps two flints were rubbed togather accidentally and the sparks fell on some dry leaves lying nearby. Or perhaps lighting struck a tree, and it went up in flames. Over a period of the time, humans learned the uses of fire. It provided light and kept them warm. Early humans kept a fire burning at the entrance of their caves to scare alway wild animals. They also found that fire could be used to cook. This may have happened accidentally. A piece of raw meat might have fallen into fire and got roasted. It would have tasted good, and humans may have started cooking their food after that.Early rock painting
Many caves have painting on their walls. Early humans perhaps painting these to express their feelings. They may also have been done on ceremonial occasions. Can you think of other reasons? |
| A prehistoric rock painting from the rock shelter at bhimbetka. |
Bhimbetka : Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh is famous for prehistoric rock painting. There are over 750 rock shelters here, nearly 500 of which have paintings. The paintings depict scenes from everyday life - of men hunting (either alone or in groups), riding, dancing, performance religious rituals; of women grinding and preparing food; of children running, jumping, playing and so on. A large number of animals have also been painted, most of them in great detail.
The colours used in the paintings are red, green, white and ochre. The paints were perhaps made by grinding various rocks and minerals till they became powder. They were then mixed with water and some sticky substance, such as reain from trees.
The deccan
My prehistoric sites have been excavated in the deccan. Some of these are in bori, morgaon, chirki-Nevasa, Isampur, Gunore, Saswad nasre, yedurwadi and attirrampakkam. All these sites are characterized by the discovery of stone tools - hand-axes, choppers, cleavers and scrapers, among other tools.The Hunsgi and Baichbal valley in the Deccan also have many stone age sites. If both the large and the small ones are taken into account, the number would cross 200. Many finished and unfinished stone tools have been found here. It appears that early humans lived here over a very long period of time.
The stone tools found from the prehistoric sites of the Deccan are an important link with the past. Archaeologists are studying these tools carefully to find out how they were used. Un this way they would be able to understand how early humans lived, what they ate and how they overcame the harsh living conditions of those times.
To sum up
2. The stone age is divided into three periods -- old, Middle and new stone age.
3. Early humans made tools of stone. They chipped stones so that could be used as tools. These stone tools were used for different task.
4. The discovery of fire made life easier.
5. Early humans painted on cave walls and in rock shelters. Bhimbetka has many such paintings.
6. Hunsgi is an important prehistoric site in the Deccan. A large number of stone tools have been discovered here.
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