There are no written records are available for the prehistoric period.

However,
plenty of archaeological remains are found in different parts of India to
reconstruct the history of this period.

In India, the prehistoric period is divided into the

Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age),
Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age),
Neolithic (New Stone Age) and the Metal Age.

RTT9TUT (TTAT T4TUT T .

AHfAA (HEJ T9TUT T),

Prehistory time and Primitive history time

Paleolithic or Old Stone Age
found in various parts of the Indian subcontinent.
located near water sources.
rock shelters and caves
also lived rarely in huts made of leaves
famous sites of Old Stone Age
The Soan valley and Potwar Plateau on northwest India.
The Siwalik hills on north India
o Bhimpetka in Madhya Pradesh.
Adamgarh hill in Narmada valley
oKurnool in Andhra Pradesh and
Attirampakkam near Chennai

o HCT aTëT HTHTG TETST

food was obtained by hunting animals and gathering edible plants and tubers.

hunter-gatherers
used stone tools, hand-sized and flaked-off large pebbles for hunting
animals. Stone implements are made of a hard rock known as quartzite
A few Old Stone Age paintings found on rocks at Bhimbetka and other
places.
Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age
Mesolithic remains are found in Langhanj in Gujarat, Adamgarh in
Madhya Pradesh and also in some places of Rajasthan, Utter Pradesh and
Bihar
paintings and engravings found at the rock shelters give an idea about the
social life and economic activities of Mesolithic people.
sites of Mesolithic Age, a different type of stone tools is found. These are
tiny stone artefacts, often not more than five centimetres in size, and
therefore called microliths
a shift from big animal hunting to small animal hunting and fishing.
U s e of bow and
arrow also began during this period
a tendency to settle for longer periods in an area
domestication of animals, horticulture and primitive cultivation started
Animal bones are found in these sites and these include dog, deer, boar
and ostrich.
Occasionally, burials of the dead along with some microliths and shells
seem to have been practised.
Neolithic Age
6000 B.C to 4000 B.C.
found in various parts of India. These include the Kashmir valley, Chirand
in Bihar, Belan valley inUttar Pradesh and in several places of the Deccan
The important Neolithic sites excavated in south India are Maski,
Brahmagiri, Hallur and Kodekal in Karnataka, Paiyampalli in Tamil Nadu
and Utnur in Andhra Pradesh

6000 À4000

characteristic features
o practice of agriculture
o domestication of animal
o polishing of stone tools
omanufacture of pottery
oMudbrick houses were built instead of grass huts.
Wheels were used to make pottery.
o cultivation of plants and domestication of animals led to the
emergence of village communities based on sedentary life.
Pottery was used for cooking as well as storage of food grains
oLarge urns were used as cofins for the burial of the dead
There was also improvement in agriculture. Wheat, barley, rice,
millet were cultivated in different areas at different points of time.
oRice cultivation was extensive in eastern India.
o Domestication of sheep, goats and cattle
o Cattle were used for cultivation and for transport
The people of the Neolithic Age used clothes made of cotton and
wool

fva
o
Metal Age
.Neolithic period is followed by the Chalcolithic (copper-stone) period
when copper and bronze came to be used.
t h e technology of smelting metal ore and crafting metal artefacts
But the use of stone tools was not given up
micro-lithic tools continued to be essential items.
People began to travel for a long distance to obtain metal ores
This led to a network of Chalcolithic cultures
Generally, Chalcolithic cultures had grown in river valleys.
the Harappan culture is considered as a part of Chalcolithic culture
In South India the river valleys of the Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra,
Pennar & Kaveri were settled by farming communities duringthis period.
Several bronze and copper objects, beads, terracotta figurines and
pottery were found at Paiyampalli in Tamil Nadu.
Chalcolithic age is followed by Iron Age
Iron is frequently referred to in the Vedas.
Iron Age of the southern peninsula is often related to Megalithic Burials
burial pits were covered with these stones
Such graves are extensively found in South India.
Some of the important megalithic sites are Hallur and Maski in Karnataka,
Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh and Adichchanallur in Tamil Nadu
Black and red pottery, iron artefacts such as hoes and sickles and
small weapons were found in the burial pits
 Indus Valley Civilization
Introduction
The history of India begins with the birth of the Indus Valley Civilization
(IVC), also known as Harappan Civilization.
It flourished around 2,500 BC, in the western part of South Asia, in
contemporary Pakistan and Western India.
The Indus Valley was home to the largest of the four ancient urban
civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China.
In 1920s, the Archaeological Department of India carried out excavations in
the Indus valley wherein the ruins of the two old cities, viz. Mohenjodaro
andHarappa were unearthed.
announced the
I n 1924, John Marshall, Director-General of the ASI,
world.
discovery of a new civilisation in the Indus valley to the
 Important Sites of IVC
Site Excavated by Location Important Findings

Harappa Daya Ram Situated on the bank Sandstone statues of Human

Sahini in 1921 of river Ravi in anatomy
Montgomery district Granaries
of Punjab (Pakistan). Bullock carts

Mohenjodaro R.D Banerjee in Situated on the Bank Great bath

(Mound of 1922 of river Indus in
Larkana district of
Granary
Dead) Bronze dancing gi
Punjab (Pakistan) Seal of Pasupathi Mahadeva
Steatite statue of be ard man
A piece of woven cotton

Sutkagendor Stein in 1929 In southwestern A trade point between Harappa

Balochistan province, and Babylon
Pakistan on Dast river

Chanhudaro N.G Majumdar in Sindh on the Indus Bead makers shop

1931 river Footprint of a dog chasing a cat

Amri N.G Majumdar in On the bank of Indus

1935 river
Antelope evidence

Kalibangan Ghose in 1953 Rajasthan on the Fire altar

bank of Ghaggar river Camel bones
Wooden plough
Lothal R.Rao in 1953 Gujarat on Bhogva First manmade port
river near Gulf of Dockyard
Cambay Rice husk
Fire altars
Chess playing

Surkotada J.P Joshi in 1964 Gujarat Bones of horsees

Beads

Banawal R.S Bisht in 1974 Hisar district of Beads

Haryana Barley
Evidence of both pre-Harappan
and Harappan culture

Dholavira R.S Bishtin 1985 Gujarat in Rann of Water harnessing system

Kachchh Water reservoir
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Phases of IVC
Three phases of IVC are:
o the Eary Harappan Phase from 3300 to 2600 BCE,
the Mature Harappan Phase from 2600 to 1900 BCE, and
othe Late Harappan Phase from 1900 to 1300 BCE.
The Early Harappan Phase is related to the Hakra Phase, identified in the
Ghaggar-Hakra River Valley.
The earliest examples of the Indus script date back to 3000 BC.
This phasestands characterized by centralized authority and an
increasingly urban quality of life.
Trade networks had been established and there are also evidences of
the cultivation of crops. Peas, sesame seeds, dates, cotton, etc, were grown

during that time.

Phase.
Kot Diji represents the phase leading up to Mature Harappan
into a mature stage.
By 2600 BC, the Indus Valley Civilization had entered
urban centers,
The early Harappan communities were turning into large
like Harappa and Mohenjodaro in Pakistan and Lothal in India.
Civilization are
The signs of a gradual decline of the lIndus River Valley
most of the cities
believed to have started around 1800 BC and by 1700 BC,
were abandoned.
one can see the various elements of the Ancient Indus Valley
However,
Civilization in later cultures.
Late Harappan culture
Archaeological data indicates the persistence of the
till 1000-900 BC.

o 3300 à 2600 ar 75 TfRs KsT ,

2600 1900T 7 Rrva s T RT, R
o T6ST RUT 1900 1300
Town Planning and Structures
The Harappan culture was distinguished by its system of town planning.
Harappa and Mohenjodaro each had its own citadel or acropolis, which
was possibly occupied by members of the ruling class.
Below the citadelin each city lay a lower town containing brick houses,
which were inhabited by the common people.
The remarkable thing about the arrangement of the houses in the cities is
that they followed the grid system.
Granaries constituted an important part of the Harappan cities.
the
The use of burnt bricks in the Harappan cities is remarkable, because in
dried bricks were used.
contemporary buildings of Egypt mainly
The drainage system of Mohenjodaro was very impressive.
had its own courtyard and
In almost all cities every big or small house
bathroom.
wells.
In Kalibangan many houses had their
Lothal (Gujarat), the entire settlement
At sites such as Dholavira and walls.
was fortified, and sections
within the town were also separated by
Agriculture
The Harappan villages, mostly situated near the flood plains, produced
sufficient foodgrains.
Wheat, barley, rai, peas, sesame, lentil, chickpea and mustard were
produced. Millets are also found from sites in Gujarat. While rice uses were
relatively rare.
The Indus people were the earliest people to produce cotton.
it is
While the prevalence of agriculture is indicated by finds of grain,
more difficult to reconstruct actual agricultural practices.
indicate that the bull was
Representations on seals and terracotta sculpture
known, and archaeologists extrapolate shows oxen were also used for
ploughing. where irrigation was
Most Harappan sites are located in semi-arid lands,
probably required for agriculture.
site of Shortughai in
Traces of canals have been found at the Harappan
Afghanistan, but not in Punjab or Sindh.
animals were also reared on
Although the Harappans practised agriculture,
a large scale.
Evidence of the horse comes from a superficial
level of Mohenjodaro and
case the Harappan
from a doubtful terracotta figurine from Lothal. In any
culture was not horse centred.
Economny
Indus people is witnessed by
The importance of trade in the life of the
and regulated weights and
the presence of numerous seals, uniform script
measures in a wide area.
trade in stone, metal, shell, etc.
The Harappans carried on considerable
was carried by barter system.
Metal money was not used and trade
Arabian Sea.
They practisednavigation on the coast of the
trading colony in northern Afghanistan which evidently
They had set up a
facilitated trade with Central Asia.
with those in the land of the Tigris & the Euphrates.
They also carried commerce
distance trade in lapis lazuli; which may
The Harappans carried on long
of the ruling class.
have contributed to the social prestige
Crafts
The Harappans were very well acquainted with the manufacturing and use
of Bronze.
Copper was obtained from the Khetri copper mines of Rajasthan and Tin
was possibly brought from Afghanistan.

Textile impressions have also been found on several objects.

Huge brick structure suggest that brick-laying was an important craft. This
also attests the existence of a class of masons.
The Harappans practised boat-making, bead making and
seal-making.
Terracotta manufacture was also an important craft.
The goldsmiths made jewellery of silver, gold and
precious stones.
The potter's wheel was in full use, and the Harappans
produced their own
characteristic pottery, which was glossy and shining.
Institutions
Very few written materials have been discovered in the Indus valley and
the scholars have not been able to
decipher the Indus script so far.
As a result, there is
difficulty in understanding the nature of the state and
institutions of the Indus Valley Civilization.
No temples have been found at
any Harappan sites. Therefore the
possibility of priests ruling Harappa can be eliminated.
Harappa was possibly ruled by a class of merchants.
If we look for a centre of
power or for depictions of people in
power, archaeological records provide no immediate answers.
Some archaeologists are of the
opinion that Harappan society had no
rulers, and that everybody enjoyed equal status.
oAnother theory argues that there was no single ruler, but a number
of
rulers representing each of the urban centers.

HRITA

Religion
InHarappa numerous terracotta figurines of women have been found. In
one figurine a plant is shown
growing out of the embryo of a woman.
o The Harappans, therefore, looked
upon the earth as a fertility
goddess and worshipped her in the same manner as the Egyptians
worshipped the Nile goddess Isis.
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The male deity is represented on a seal with three homed heads,

represented in the sitting posture of a yogi.
oThis god is surrounded by an elephant, a tiger, a rhinoceros, and has a
buffalo below his throne. At his feet appear two deer.The depicted god
is identified as Pushupati Mahadeva.
Numerous symbols of the phallus and female sex organs made of stone
have been found.
The people of the Indus region also worshipped trees and Animals.
The most important of them is the one horned unicorn which may be
identified with the rhinoceros and the next important was the humped bull.
Amulets have also been found in large numbers.

Decline of the Indus Valley Civilization

The IVC declined around 1800 BCE but the actual reasons behind its demisee
are still debated.
and
One theory claims that Indo-European tribe i.e. Aryans invaded
conquered the IVC.
oIn later cultures various elements of the IVC are found which su8gest
that civilization did not disappear suddenly due to an invasion.
the
O n the other hand, many scholars believe natural factors are behind
decline of the IVC.
o The natural factors could be geological and climatic.
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oIt is believed that the Indus Valey region experienced several tectonic
disturbances which causes earthquakes. Which also changed courses
of rivers or dried them up.
o Another natural reason might be changes in patterns of rainfal.
There could be also dramatic shifts in the river courses, which might have
brought filoods to the food producing areas.
Due to combination of these natural causes there was a slow but inevitable
collapse of IVC.

www
 Pre History and Indus Valley Civilization

Q.1. By the proof of excavated evidences when was the domestication of

animals begun:
A. Lower paleolithic age. B. Upper Middle paleolithic age.
C. Upper paleolithic age. D. Mesolithic age.

D. AFNAT t
Answer: 1(D)

Q.2. Consider the following statements:

1. The first evidence of humans in India was found in Narmada valley.
2. The first grain used by humans was barley.
3. Bhimbetika was famous for prehistoric rock paintings.
Which of the following statement is/are correct:
A. Only 1 and 2 B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1 and 3 D. All of the above are correct.

A. aT 13HR 2 8. a 2 AT 3
C. aT 13tK 3
Answer: 2(D)

Q.3. Consider the following statements:

1. The oldest evidence of agriculture in Indian Subcontinent was found in
harappa.
2. The chalcolithic age is also called the Neolithic age.
3. Megalith monuments were identified as graveyards.
of the following statement is/are correct:
Which
A. Only 1 and 2 B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1and3 D. All of the above are correct.
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Benchers

A.a 13AN 2 B. har 2 r 3

c a 13r 3
Answer 3: (B)

Q.4. On which site the evidence of dog skeleton was also found with human
skeleton:
A. Brahmagiri B. Burjhome
C. Chirand. D. Maaski.

A. EHT
C. fari D. HTFT
Answer: 4(B)

Q.5. Consider the following:

1. Domesticization of cattles. 2. Pottery.
3. Community life. 4. Weapons.
Which of the following is/are the characteristics of Neolithic age.
B. Only 2, 3 and 4
A. Only 1,3 and 4
D. All 1, 2, 3 and 4
C. Only 1, 2 and 3

2. fAç ada
3. HTa7 Haa 4. gfAar

B. d 2, 3 3HiT 4
A. 1,3 ziT4
D. Fat 1, 2, 3 3iT 4
C. a 1, 2 3HT3
Answer: 5(D)
ministry/department?
is attached to which
Q.6. Archaeological survey of India
A. Ministry of Culture. B. Ministry of Tourism.
D. Ministry of technology.
C. Ministry of HRD.

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A. EAATca B. Tc HTA
D. 9tatfare AATG
Answer: 6{A)

Q.7. Match the following items:

List: List:
A. Harappa (a) Godavari.
B. Hastinapur (b) Rabi.
C. Nagarjuna Konda (c) Ganga.
D. Paithan. (d) Krishna.

A. F5CT (a) itaratti

B.efEAATR (b) TTI

C.aTTI aST (c) TOTI
D. taUT (d)T
Choose the correct answer using following code:

A. A-c, B-b, C-a, D-d B. A-a, B-b, Cc, D-d

C. A-b, B-c, C-d, D-a D.A-d, B-c,C-b, D-a
Answer: 7(C)

Q.8. Match the following items

List:1 (Cities) List: II (location)
A. Alamgirpur (a) Rajasthan.
B. Lothal (b) Uttar pradesh.
C. KaliBanga (c) Haryana.
D. Rakhi gadhi. (d) Gujarat.

A. HTorT (al IsRATTI

B. aTa (b) 37T A

(c) EraTI
D. TET TOa (d) RIA
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Choose the correct answer using following code:

A. A-C, B-b, C-a, D-d

8. A-a, B-b, Cc, D-d
C.A-b, B-d, C-a, D-c
D. A-d, B-c, C-b, D-a
Answer: 8(C)

Q.9. Which of the following sites of Harappan Civilization is/are located in

sindh:
1. Harappa. 2. Mohenjodaro.
3. Surkotada. 4. Chanhudaro.

1. FST 2. Hgtasti
3. asTI 4. RTi

Choose the correct answer using following Code:

A. Only 1 and 2 B. Only 2 and 4

C. Only 2, 3 and 4 D. All of the above.
Answer: 9(B)

Q.10. Indus valley civilization was a Non Aryan civilization because:

A. It was an urban civilization. B.It has its own script.
C. Its economy was agrarian. D. Its reach was till Narmada valley.

Answer: 10(A)

Q.11. Which of the following statements prove that Indus valley cvillzation
was different from Vedic civilization:
1. They have features of developed urban life.
2. They have a developed pictographic script.
3. They have no knowledge of Iron and defence weapons.
Choose the correct answer using following code:
A. Only 1 and 2 B. Only 2 and 3
D. All of the above are correct.
C.Only1 and 3

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2. 3 T s faaaa fdATA T

A. a 13 2 B. a 2 3it 3
C. a c 1 3TN 3 D. 3777 HT HATEI
Answer 11: (D)

Q.12. Which of the following is the major source to know about the culture of
people in Indus Valley:
A. Seals. B. Utensils, ornaments, weapons & tools.
C. Temples. D. Script.

A. ET
C. HT D. E T
Answer: 12(B)

Q.13. Indus valley civilization is known for:

A. For its urban planning. B. For Mohenjo daro and Harappa.
C. For its agricultural development. D. For its industries.
Choose the correct answer using following code:
A. Only 1 and 2 B. Only 2 and 3
C.Only 1 and 3 D. All of the above are correct.

3.57 faR 4. 3HTA 34uTT 5 foTI

A.a 13t2 B. h a 2 3T 3
C.a 1 3AT3
Answer 13: (D)

Q.14. Which of the following sites of Indus Valley Cvilization is naw located
in Pakistan.
A. Kalibanga B. Harappa
C. Lothal. D. Alamgirpur.
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A. O T B.FST
C. ATraI o. HTRAatryzi
Answer: 14(B)

Q.15. People in Indus valley worships:

A. Pashupati shiva. 8. Indra and varuna.
C. Bharma D. Vishnu.

iarehtaId
A. Tufa faI 8. 3T aUTI
C.AEAT D. f a
Answer: 15{A)

Q.16. The rivers on which Indus valley civilization established are:

1. Indus 2. Chenab
3.Jhelam. 4. Ganga
Choose the correct answer using following Code:
A. Only 1 and 2 B. Only 1, 2 and 3
C. Only 2, 3 and 4 D. All of the above.

1. fy 2. faT
3.Ftaa 4. TOT

A. a 1tr 2 8. a 1, 2 HT3
C. a 2, 3 t t 4 D. HT HA
Answer: 16(B)

Q.17.Which of the following is not correctly matched:

A. Harappa: Dayaram sahni 8. Lothal :S.R.Rao
C. Surkotada:J.P.joshi. D. Dholavira:V.K.Thapar.

A. 65CT:aRTA HIEG 8. aa:UH.HT. Ta

Answer: 17(D)

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Q.18. Which of the following is/are a correct delineation of Indus civilization
people
1. They have big houses and Temples.
2. They worship both God and Goddess.
3. They use the chariot pulled by horses in the war.
Choose the correct answer using following code:
A. Only 1 and 2 B. Only 2
C. Only 1 and 3 D. All of the above are incorrect.

1. 3T5 TR a r TAfTdI

A. a 1 tR 2 B.hc 2
c. a 1 3itt 3
Answer: 18(B)

Q.19. Which of the following animals does not have any representation on the
seals and terracotta sculptures found in harappan civilization:
A. Cow B. Elephant.
C. Rhino. D. Tiger.

B. reT
A.
D. EI5TR
C.UET
Answer: 19(A)

Q.20. Consider the following statements:

1. Dholavira is a harappan city divided into three parts.
2. Dholaveera is located in haryana.
water management system are found in
3. The evidence of a developed
dholavira.
Which of the following statement is/are correct:
A. Only 1 and 2 B. Only 2 and 3
D. All of the above are correct.
C. Only 1 and 3
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2. tard ftaI ÀaI

A. a 13AT2 8. a r 2 3tt3
c. a r 1 3tr 3
Answer 20: (C)

Q.21. In which of the following place of Indus valley civilization the famous
unicorn seal is found:
A. Harappa. B. Chanhudaro.
C. Lothal D. mohenjodaro

A. SCT

C. arua D. atgstast
Answer: 21(D)

Q.22. Consider the following statements:

1. The evidence of lions was not found in Indus Valley civilization.
2. The Harappans were not aware of horses.
3. Mesopotamia civilization was the first to start cotton Irrigation for cloth.
Which of the following statement is/are not correct:
A. Only 1 and 2 B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1 and 3 D. All of the above are correct.

A. a 1 3t 2 8. r a 2 3t 3
C.aT133
Answer 22: (B)
 Q.23. Which of the following civilization was developed in bank of river Nile:
A. Roman civilization. B. Mesopotamia civilization
C. Greek civilization. D. Egyption civilization.

A.THHTAT B. HHIYTEfAAT HRAT

D.fA HAT
Answer: 23(D)

Q,24. Consider the following statements:

1. Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Ropad and Kalibanga were the important sites of
Indus valley civilization.
2. Harappans have developed advanced road, drainage systems and planned
cities on grid bases
3. Harappans were not aware about metals.
Which of the following statement is/are not correct:
A. Only 1 and 2 B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1 and 3 D. All of the above are correct.

A. baa 1AT2 8. ha 2 3ir 3

C. a 13T 3
Answer 24: (A)

Q.25. Which of the following is the oldest civilization which have developed an
appropriate system of writing art:
A. Indus B. chinese
C. Sumeria D. Persian

A. Fy B.
. D. 9r
Answer: 25(C) M