already emerged. Some regions witnessed higher rainfall. At Didwana in western Rajasthan, fresh water lakes were known to exist between , and BP. The animal bones from this period suggest a dry deciduous type of forest during the Mesolithic period.
Chronology The date of the Mesolithic culture varies in different parts of the world. This culture is assigned to pre-agricultural times in certain areas. In Levant (Eastern Mediterranean), they are dated between , and BCE. In India, Mesolithic cultures appeared around , BCE.
In certain parts of India including Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it continued up to BCE, till the beginning of the Iron Age. In Sri Lanka, the microliths appeared about , years BP. beads have been found at Jwalapuram in Andhra Pradesh, Patne in Maharashtra and Batadomba- Lena and Fa Hien Cave in Sri Lanka. Ostrich Egg Shells Evidence of ostrich has been found in some pre-historic sites of India.
The egg shell of this bird had been used as beads and those from Patne have been dated to , BP. They are found in Bhimbetka and Patne. Decorated ostrich shells from Upper Palaeolithic site in Patne in Maharashtra Ways of Life and Main Characteristics Evidence of art in the Upper Palaeolithic period appears in the form of paintings. Beads and ornaments of this period have also been found.
The lithic blade industry advanced in this period. Some of the green colour paintings of Bhimbetka are dated to Upper Palaeolithic period based on style and archaeological evidence. Mesolithic Culture Mesolithic sites are found in most parts of India. They occur in all eco-zones from the coasts to the hills: sand dunes, rock shelters, deltaic regions, lake areas, forested territories, hilly and mountainous areas, rocky terrains and coastal environments.
An Upper Palaeolithic Shrine An interesting find is of a possible shrine, indicated by a block of sandstone surrounded by a rubble circle, similar to the contemporary shrines. Found at Baghor in Uttar Pradesh, it is the earliest known evidence of a shrine in India. Similar stone in a contemporary shrine Triangular stone from upper palaeolithic shrine