humans are said to have emerged around , , years ago. In India, the Middle Palaeolithic phase was first identified by H.D. Sankalia on the Pravara River at Nevasa. After this discovery, several sites of this period have been identified.
Recently, the Middle Palaeolithic of Athirampakkam is dated to be around . - . lakh years BP. Indian Middle Palaeolithics probably may be as old as the African Middle Palaeolithic culture.
Industries and Tool Types The tool types of the Middle Palaeolithic period are hand axes, cleavers, choppers, chopping tools, scrapers, borers and points, projectile points or shouldered points, and knives on flakes. Flake industry was predominant in the Middle Palaeolithic period and tools such as scrapers, points and borers were made. Scrapers were used for wood and skin working. Chronology The Middle Palaeolithic culture in India is dated between , , and , BCE (BC).
While the African Middle Stone Age is associated with the Homo sapiens , it is associated with the Neanderthals in Europe. No hominin fossil bones of this species have been found in India. Distribution The Middle Palaeolithic sites are found in Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, Yamuna and other river valleys. Ways of Life and Main Characteristics The Middle Palaeolithic people occupied open-air, cave and rock shelter sites.
They were hunter-gatherers. The main features of the Indian Middle Palaeolithic period include the following: XI History - Lesson - - Early India: From the Beginnings to the Indus Civilisation Mesolithic sites in India are found in Paisra (Bihar), Langhnaj (Gujarat), Baghor II, Chopani Mando, Sarai Nahar Rai, Mahadaha and Damdama (all in Uttar Pradesh), Sankanakallu (Andhra) and Kibbanahalli (Karnataka). Rock shelter sites are found in Adamgarh and Bhimbetka. Coastal sites are seen at Mumbai, teri sites in Thoothukudy district (Tamil Nadu) and Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), these sites also have microlithic evidence.
Teri: A coastal landscape caused by sand dunes. These soils may have originated in the Pleistocene epoch of the Quaternary period. Climate After the Ice Age, with the advent of global warming, human groups became highly mobile and began to occupy various eco-zones. The monsoon pattern had