Pre-Historical Era - Before Indus Valley Civilization

Generally divided into

1) Pre-history (for which no written records available)
2) History (both written and archeological evidences are available)

Pre-history on Indian landmass

1) Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)
2) Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)
3) Neolithic (New Stone Age)
4) Chalcolithic (Copper Age)
5) Iron Age

Methods used to determine the time period
1) carbon dating
2) dendro-chronology

Paleolithic Age (till 10000 BC)

• scattered all over but mostly found near water sources
• lived rarely in huts made of leaves
• hunters-gatherers
• found at 
• Bhimbetka
• Siwaliks
• Potwar Plateau & Soan Valley
• Adamgarh hills in Narmada valley
• Kurnool
• near chennai

Mesolithic Age (10000 BC - 6000 BC)

• microliths
• shift from big animal hunting to small animal and fish
• use of bow and arrow
• tendency to settle at a place for longer duration of time
• domestication of animals stated
• horticulture and primitive agriculture also started

Neolithic Age (6000 BC - 4000 BC)

• Practice of Agriculture
• Domestication of Animals
• Polished stone tools
• Pottery using wheels
• Mud brick houses instead of grass huts
• clothes made of cotton and wool

Chalcolithic Age

• copper and bronze along with stone
• Generally grew up in river valleys
• People travelled far away to obtain metal ores leading to network of settlements