Question map
Consider the following statements about Stone Age in India: I. Different periods are identified on the basis of the type and technology of stone tools. II. There are no regional variations in the type and technology of tools in different periods. III. Stone Age cultures of different periods evolved uniformly in a neat unilinear fashion all over the subcontinent. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement I is correct as the Indian Stone Age is divided into Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods based on geological age, subsistence patterns, and specifically the type and technology of stone tools [3]. For instance, the Upper Palaeolithic is characterized by blade technology, while the Mesolithic is defined by microliths [1]. Statement II is incorrect because there are significant regional variations; different groups made cultural adaptations to diverse eco-zones, leading to technological diversity in western India and varying dates for cultures like the Mesolithic in Kerala and Tamil Nadu [2]. Statement III is incorrect because Stone Age cultures did not evolve in a neat unilinear fashion; rather, they involved multiple migrations, diverse cultural adaptations, and overlapping timelines where certain cultures continued in some regions while others advanced elsewhere [2].
Sources
- [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 1: Early India: From the Beginnings to the Indus Civilisation > Introduction > p. 1
- [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 1: Early India: From the Beginnings to the Indus Civilisation > 141 Pre-historic India > p. 2
- [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 1: Early India: From the Beginnings to the Indus Civilisation > Lithic Tools and Industries > p. 4