1.
A number of early Palaeolithic sites were found here. At some sites, a large number of tools, used for all sorts of activities, were found. These were probably habitation-cum factory sites. In some of the other, smaller sites, there is evidence to suggest that tools were made. Some of the sites were close to springs. Most tools were made from limestone, which was locally available.
2.
Usually, we find blocks of stone, tools that were made and perhaps discarded because they were not perfect, and chips of waste stone left behind at these sites.
3.
During the development of Grasslands, several grain bearing grasses, including wheat, barley and rice grew naturally in different parts of the subcontinent. Men, women and children probably collected these grains as food and learnt where they grew, and when they ripened. This may have led them to think about growing plants on their own.
4.
Sometimes, people lived at the factory sites for longer spells of time. These sites are called habitation-cum-factory sites.
5.
Ostriches were found in India during the Palaeolithic period. Large quantities of ostrich egg shells were found at Patna in Maharashtra. Designs were engraved on some pieces, while beads were also made out of them.
6.
Archaeologists call the earliest period the Palaeolithic. This comes from two Greek words, ‘palaeo’, meaning old, and ‘lithos’, meaning stone. The name points to the importance of finds of stone tools. The Palaeolithic period extends from 2 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago. This long stretch of time is divided into the Lower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. This long span of time covers 99% of human history.
7.
As stone tools were important to hunter-gatherers, people tried to find places where the good quality stone was easily available. Places where the stone was found and where people made tools are known as factory sites.
8.
Bhimbetka is in Madhya Pradesh, Hunsgi is in Karnataka and Kurnool is in Andhra Pradesh.
9.
Option A
10.
Around 12,000 years ago, there were major changes in the climate of the world, with a shift to relatively warm conditions. In many areas, this led to the development of grasslands.
11.
Traces of ash have been found at Kurnool Caves Site. This suggests that
people were familiar with the use of fire. The fire could have been used for many things: as a source of light, to roast meat, or to scare away animals.
12.
To hunt animals or catch fish and birds, people need to be alert, quick, and have lots of presence of mind. To collect plant produce, you need to find out which plants or parts of plants are edible, that is, can be eaten,
as many can be poisonous. One must also need to find out about the seasons when the fruits ripen.
13.
Because they provided shelter from rain, heat and wind.
14.
Option A
15.
Bhimbetka, Kurnool Caves, Hunsgi.
16.
Sites are places where the remains of things (tools, pots, buildings etc.) were found. These were made, used and left behind by people. These may be found on the surface of the earth, buried under the earth, or sometimes even under water.
17.
The stone tools were used to cut meat and bone, scrape bark (from trees) and hides (animal skins), chop fruit and roots. Some may have been attached to handles of bone or wood, to make spears and arrows for hunting. Other tools were used to chop wood, which was used as firewood. Wood was also used to make huts and tools.
18.
The name comes from the way in which they got their food. Generally, they hunted wild animals, caught fish and birds, gathered fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, leaves, stalks and eggs.
19.
The period when we find environmental changes, beginning about 12,000 years ago till about 10,000 years ago is called the Mesolithic (middle stone). Stone tools found during this period are generally tiny and are called microliths. Microliths were probably stuck onto handles of bone or wood to make tools such as saws and sickles. At the same time, older varieties of tools continued to be in use.
20.
Archaeologists have found some of the things hunter-gatherers made and used. It is likely that people made and used tools of stone, wood and bone, of which stone tools have survived best.
