{"id":2849,"date":"2026-04-09T11:27:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T05:57:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=2849"},"modified":"2026-04-11T12:36:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T07:06:40","slug":"prehistoric-period","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/prehistoric-period\/","title":{"rendered":"Prehistoric Period in India, Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic Age"},"content":{"rendered":"

The term <\/span>prehistoric period<\/b> also refers to the <\/span>\"Stone Age\"<\/b>, when stone was generally used to create objects for the various needs of early humans. The tools used by humans and their ancestors in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier hominids Australopithecus and Paranthropus, are considered to be Stone Age artefacts. Although bone tools were also used during this time period in addition to stone tools, they are rarely found in the archaeological record. Based on chronology, typography, and other general characteristics, the Stone Age can be divided into the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There are instances in history where stone was not exclusively used for tools and technology, such as in the <\/span>Chalcolithic Age<\/b><\/a>, where copper was used along with stones. In some parts of history, stones were not even used as a tool but rather for burial practices, such as in <\/span>Megalithic Culture<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What is the Prehistoric Period?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

History has been classified as prehistory, Proto-History and history. Prehistory is the study of the beginnings and development of human societies prior to the invention of writing systems. It is also called the Stone Age due to the extensive use of stone tools during this period. Proto-history is an intermediate stage between prehistory and history, covering about the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. History is classified in other ways as the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Stages and Timeline of the Prehistoric Period<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Phase<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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Time Period<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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Palaeolithic Age<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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5,00,000- 10,000 BC<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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Lower Paleolithic: <\/b>5,00,000- 100,000 BC<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Middle Paleolithic: <\/b>\u00a0100,000 - 40,000 BC<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Upper Paleolithic:<\/b> 40,000 - 10,000 BC<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

Mesolithic Age<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

10,000 - 4000 BC<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

Neolithic Age<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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7000 - 1000 BC<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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Chalcolithic Age (Copper Age)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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2000 - 700 BC<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

Palaeolithic Age of Prehistoric Period<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

The term \"Palaeolithic\" refers to the Old Stone Age of the Prehistoric Period because it derives from the Greek words palaeos, which means old, and lithos, which means stone. It belongs to the Pleistocene geological era.<\/span><\/p>\r\n