Palaeolithic Chronology: Roughly 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 BCE. Further subdivided into Lower (Early), Middle, and Upper (Late) Palaeolithic based on tool technology and associated hominid species.
Lower Palaeolithic (Early Stone Age): Associated with Homo erectus. Tools include handaxes and cleavers (Acheulian culture). Major sites: Soan Valley (Pakistan), Belan Valley (UP), Bhimbetka (MP), Hunsgi (Karnataka).
Middle Palaeolithic (Middle Stone Age): Associated with Neanderthals. Tools include flakes, scrapers, borers. Major sites: Narmada Valley, Son Valley, Nevasa (Maharashtra).
Upper Palaeolithic (Late Stone Age): Associated with Homo sapiens. Tools include blades, burins, scrapers. Emergence of bone tools and art (cave paintings). Major sites: Bhimbetka, Kurnool Caves (AP), Patne (Maharashtra).
Mesolithic Chronology: Roughly 10,000 BCE to 6,000 BCE (varies regionally). Characterized by environmental changes (warmer climate) and increased biodiversity.
Mesolithic Innovations: Domestication of animals (dogs, sheep, goats) at sites like Bagor (Rajasthan) and Adamgarh (MP). Early pottery in later phases. Development of fishing and fowling.
Neolithic Chronology: Roughly 7,000 BCE to 1,000 BCE (varies regionally, earliest in Mehrgarh around 7000 BCE). Marks the beginning of the 'Neolithic Revolution'.
Neolithic Revolution: Term coined by V. Gordon Childe. Refers to the profound shift from nomadic hunting-gathering to settled agricultural life, leading to population growth, village formation, and social stratification.
Key Neolithic Features: Permanent mud-brick houses, organized village settlements, invention of the wheel (for pottery), development of weaving, and specialized crafts.