STONE TOOLS AND USES OF FIRE
- Archaeologists describe the time period of Hunters-Gatherers as STONE AGE.
- Stone was used as tools and weapons and they took shelters in the caves in diverse climatic conditions.
- Stone age can be divided into three periods-
PALAEOLITHIC PERIOD:
- The earliest period.
- Comes from two Greek words, 'palaeo' means old, and 'lithos' means stone.
- Period extends from 2 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago.
- The long span further divided into three parts –
- Lower Palaeolithic
- Middle Palaeolithic
- Upper Palaeolithic
- This period covers 99% of human history.
MESOLITHIC PERIOD:
- It is also called Middle Stone Age.
- The period of environmental changes.
- Began about 12,000 years ago till about 10,000 years ago.
- Tiny stone tools found in this period, called MICROLITHS.
- Handles of bone or wood attached with the Microliths to make tools i.e. saws and sickles.
- Old tools continued with the new ones.
NEOLITHIC PERIOD:
- 'Neo' means new, it's a New stone age.
- From about 10,000 years ago
EVOLUTION OF FIRE AND ITS USES:
- Traces of ashes have been found in the Kurnool Caves of Andhra Pradesh.
- The people were familiar with the use of fire.
- a source of light
- to roast meat
- to scare away animals
- The first reported use of fire in the Indian subcontinent was from 18,000-20,000 years ago.