All across India, there are several mesolithic sites. In these sites, various archaeolgical excavations have been done. In the table given below, we will look at what has been excavated in various Mesolithic Indian sites.
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Site in India
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Archaeological Excavation
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Bhimbetka Rock Shelters
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- Popular Mesolithic site in India, located in Madhya Pradesh.
- Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003.
- Numerous rock art paintings have been found in which scenes from daily life, animal and human figures, and abstract designs can be seen.
- Such artistic expressions reveal the social, religious, and cultural aspects of the Mesolithic people.
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Bagor Village
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- Houses well-preserved archaeological remains.
- Variety of artefacts, like stone tools, pottery, and animal remains have been excavated which enhance our understanding of the Mesolithic technological advancements and subsistence strategies.
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Langhnaj Village
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- Range of stone tools, pottery fragments, and animal bones have been found which tell us about the settled lifestyle of the Mesolithic people living in Langhnaj.
- Also shows importance of Hunting and gathering.
- Such archaeological excavations make us understand the Mesolithic social organization and cultural practices.
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Sarai Nahar Rai
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- Located in Uttar Pradesh.
- throws light on Mesolithic period’s trade and exchange networks.
- Variety of artefacts, like stone tools, ornaments, and beads made from shell and bone have been found indicating that the Mesolithic people engaged in long-distance trade, which meant that they interacted with distant communities.
- Enhances our understanding of the Mesolithic society’s cultural complexities, including their rituals and belief systems.
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Adamgarh Cave
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- Located in Madhya Pradesh.
- reveals intriguing insights into the artistic expressions of the Mesolithic people.
- Paintings and engravings showing animals, humans, and geometric designs can be seen in the caves of Adamgarh.
- Enhances understanding of Mesolithic beliefs, rituals, and worldview
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Deccan College Archaeological Site
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- Located in Pune, Maharashtra.
- Stone tools, pottery has been excavated from here which serves as evidence of early agricultural practices.
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Bhagimori
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- Variety of artefacts like microliths, bone tools, and pottery fragments have been found.
- Helps us undertand the technological advancements and subsistence strategies of the Mesolithic communities in this region.
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Chaturbhujnath Nala
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- Located in Madhya Pradesh.
- Houses rich archaeological evidence.
- Stone tools, pottery, and animal bones have been excavated which provides an insight into the daily lives of the Mesolithic people.
- Enhances understanding of Social organization and cultural complexities of the Mesolithic societies in this region
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Baghpat site
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- Located in Uttar Pradesh.
- Shows how the Mesolithic people in this region adapted to their environment.
- Variety of artefacts like stone tools, pottery have been found.
- Evidence of plant and animal remains.
- Provides insights into the resource utilization techniques adopted by the Mesolithic people of this region.
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Roopkund Lake
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- Situated in the Himalayas.
- Skeletal remains have been found in the lake, therefore it is also known as the “Skeleton Lake.”
- Scientific investigations have revealed that these remains date back to the Mesolithic period.
- Provides insights into the ancient populations’ activities and how they were connected to this region.
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Rakhi Garhi
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- Marks the transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic period.
- Evidence of early agricultural practices, like the presence of domesticated animals and agricultural tools.
- Enhances understanding of the cultural and technological advancements.
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Mesolithic Age : Features, Major Sites, Culture, Findings & Impact
Mesolithic Age: Mesolithic Age is the intermediate stage between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic periods in the Stone Age Culture. The word ‘Mesolithic’ is derived from the Greek words ‘Meso’ meaning ‘middle’ and ‘Lithic’ meaning ‘stone.’ In India, the Mesolithic Age is said to have been from 9000-4000 BCE. Initially, in the Mesolithic era, lived on hunting, fishing, and food gathering. Later on, the Mesolithic man domesticated animals and cultivated plants.
In this article, we will talk about the Mesolithic Age, its period, features, tools of Mesolithic Era, Mesolithic Sites in India, findings of these archaeological sites, their characteristics, the Mesolithic art and culture along with the impact of the Mesolithic Age.
Table of Content
- Mesolithic Age
- Mesolithic Age Time Period
- Salient Features of the Mesolithic Age in India
- Major Indian Sites of the Mesolithic Age
- Findings from Archaeological Excavations of Mesolithic Age
- Tools of the Mesolithic Age
- Art of Mesolithic Period
- Mesolithic Culture
- Impact of Mesolithic Sites in India