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crude, unpolished stone tools. They had no knowledge to
give shape to or polish the stone tools. They mainly used

hand axes, cleavers, blades, choppers and scrapers. Their
tools were made of hard rock called ‘quartzite’, hence
Paleolithic men are also called ‘Quartzite Men’.

The Palaeolithic Age in India has been divided into three
Palaeolithic Age Tools phases according to the type of stone tools and changes in

climate—Early or Lower Palaeolithic, Middle Palaeolithic and Upper Palaeolithic.

Many Palaeolithic tools have been found in India from the sites like Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh),
Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh), Bori (Maharashtra) and Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh).

During Palaeolithic period, many parts of the Earth were covered with ice and the climate was
severely cold. So, this period is also called the ‘Ice Age’.

2. Mesolithic Age : The period when we find environmental
changes, beginning about 12,000 years ago till about 10,000
years ago is called the Mesolithic Age or Middle Stone
Age. The Climate now became warm and dry. Grasslands
developed in many areas and animals that survived on grass
like deer, sheep, cattle and goat increased in numbers.
During this period, men learned to make smaller, sharper Mesolithic Tools
and more efficient tools called ‘Microliths’. They made hammers, sickles, scrapers and

arrow heads and also made bow and arrow which made them easy to hunt. Hook and baits
were used for fishing.

In the Mesolithic Age, men were becoming more experienced about their surroundings.
They were learning the food habits and the breeding seasons of animals like goat and
sheep. Due to the climatic change—rice, wheat, barley, etc began to be grown. Now they
were learning; where these grains would grow and when they would ripe. They were, thus
progressing towards agriculture and food production.

Various Mesolithic sites are found in the Chhota Nagpur region of Jharkhand, Central India
and also South of the Krishna river.

3. Neolithic Age : About 10,000 years ago, our ancestors
progressed to the Neolithic Age or the New Stone Age. Man’s
life changed in this period due to major achievements like
the beginning of agriculture, the invention of the wheel
and the making of pottery. Now tools became better.

Axes, spears, sickles, bows and arrows were main tools.
Neolithic Tools These tools were much sharper and better polished. Such
tools have been found in sites at Mehrgarh (Pakistan). Burzahom and Gufkral (Jammu and
Kashmir), Maski and Piklihal (Karnataka).

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