Topic 1.5 · History · Prehistoric India

Rock Art & Important Sites

Rock Art & Important Sites is studied as part of "Prehistoric India" (Ancient India) in History. Prehistoric India spans the long Stone Age before the first cities. The Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic cultures show the slow evolution of hunting-gathering into settled agriculture — the true foundation of Indian civilisation.

In the examination context, rock art & important sites carries conceptual questions that test both factual recall and analytical understanding. Revise this topic in sequence with the rest of the chapter so that chronological and thematic links are clear.

Important Facts

Palaeolithic sites: Bhimabetaka, Attirampakkam, Hunsgi
Mesolithic period: c. 10,000 – 8,000 BCE — microliths
Neolithic sites: Mehrgarh, Chirand, Burzahom
Ochre Coloured Pottery: Associated with Copper Age

Key Points

Palaeolithic sites — Bhimabetaka, Attirampakkam, Hunsgi
Mesolithic period — c. 10,000 – 8,000 BCE — microliths
Neolithic sites — Mehrgarh, Chirand, Burzahom
Ochre Coloured Pottery — Associated with Copper Age

Important Names

V.G. ChildeB.B. LalRobert Bruce Foote

Important Dates

1863	First palaeolith found by Robert Bruce Foote
c. 7000 BCE	Mehrgarh — earliest known farming settlement

Exam-Oriented Notes

»Associate each stone age with its characteristic tools and sites. Bhimabetaka's rock paintings and Mehrgarh's agriculture are the most repeated points.