lives of the earliest people and hunters and Gatherers

LIVES OF THE EARLIEST PEOPLE

ON THE MOVE: HUNTER - GATHERERS

• The evidence of human survival on the subcontinent was dated back about 2 million years ago.
• They described as Hunters – Gatherers as their lives depended on hunting the wild animals and gathering the forest produce such as fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, leaves, stalks and eggs.

• But they could not stay too long at one place.

The reasons for their movement:

1. In search of food, move to another place – Staying long at one place means eaten all the available resources (forest produce and animals) and unavailability of food at that place.

2. Trace the path of animals' movement – Hunters followed the movement of the animals.

3. Seasonal fruits/ flowers on plants and trees – People had to move from season to season in search of different kinds of plants.
4. Availability of water: Water is essential for the survival of people, plants and animals and it found in lakes, streams and rivers. Early people lived around these places. If these water bodies were not perennial (water throughout the year), they moved in search of water to another place.

KNOWING THE EARLIEST PEOPLE LIVES

Archaeological findings tell us -

• The things used by hunters –gatherers.
• People made tools of wood, bone and stone.

• Stone tools have survived best and used
  •  to cut meat and bone
  • scrape bark(from trees) and hides(animal skin)
  • chop fruits and roots
  • to make spears and arrows (bone/wooden handle attached ) for hunting
  • to chop wood used as firewood

• Wood was used to make huts and tools.

SITES OF HUNTERS – GATHERERS

Sites:  

• The places where the remains of things (tools, pots, buildings etc.) were found, which were used and left behind by people.
• May be found
  • on the surface of the earth
  • buried under the earth
  • under water

Archaeologists have found sites of hunter – gatherers:

• • Bhimketka
  • Hunsgi
  • Kurnool caves

Location of the sites:

• Near sources of water
  • rivers
  • lakes

• Places where good quality stones available(as stone tools were important)

Bhimbetka ( Madhya Pradesh):

• An old site with caves and rock shelters.
• Close to the Narmada river
• Natural caves chosen by the people as they provided shelter from rain, heat and wind.
• People did paintings on the walls of these caves.