This chapter traces the life of the earliest humans, their tools, living conditions, food habits, and the gradual changes in environment that shaped human history. It also explains how historians and archaeologists reconstruct this distant past.

The Earliest People: Hunter-Gatherers

People who lived in the Indian subcontinent about 2 million years ago were known as hunter-gatherers.

• They hunted wild animals, caught fish and birds, and gathered fruits, roots, nuts, eggs, and berries.
• Since food resources were limited, they moved constantly from one place to another.
• To gather plant food, they required knowledge of seasons and edible plants.
• Their lifestyle depended entirely on nature, making them highly adaptable.

Stone Age Periods

Human history is divided into different Stone Age periods based on the type of tools used.

1. Palaeolithic Period (Old Stone Age)

• Time period: 2 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago
• Characterized by large stone tools
• Divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper Palaeolithic

2. Mesolithic Period (Middle Stone Age)

• Time period: 12,000 to 10,000 years ago
• Tools were small, sharp, and light, called Microliths

3. Neolithic Period (New Stone Age)

• Began around 10,000 years ago
• Marked the beginning of growing plants and domesticating animals

Tools: Making and Uses

Early humans made tools from stone, wood, and bone.

Uses of Stone Tools

• Cutting meat and bones
• Scraping tree bark and animal hides
• Chopping fruits and roots

Techniques of Tool Making

• Stone-on-stone technique: One stone used to shape another
• Pressure flaking: Applying pressure to give sharp edges

Where Did Early Humans Live?

Early humans chose places carefully:

• Near rivers and lakes for water
• Areas with good quality stone for making tools
• Natural shelters like caves and rock shelters

Habitation and Factory Sites

• Factory-sites: Places where stone tools were made
• Habitation-cum-factory sites: Places where people lived and made tools

📍 Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh) is an important example with caves and rock shelters.

Rock Paintings

Many caves have rock paintings depicting:

• Wild animals
• Hunting scenes

These paintings show great accuracy and artistic skill and provide insights into early human life.

Discovery and Use of Fire

Evidence of fire has been found in the Kurnool caves (Andhra Pradesh).

Fire was used:

• As a source of light
• To cook meat
• To scare away wild animals

Changing Environment and New Ways of Life

Around 12,000 years ago, climate change led to:

• Warmer conditions
• Development of grasslands

This encouraged:

• Herding and rearing of animals
• Fishing
• Growth of grain-bearing grasses like wheat, barley, and rice
• Gradual shift towards agriculture

Important Archaeological Sites

• Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh) – habitation sites and rock paintings
• Hunsgi (Karnataka) – early Palaeolithic sites with limestone tools

Key Terms to Remember