The Mesolithic Age

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Overview

The Mesolithic Age, which means Middle Stone Age, was the second part of the Stone Age. This age
is characterized by the use of Microliths (small bladed stone tools).

Key points related to this period are as following:

In India, it spanned around 9,000 B.C. to 4,000 B.C. This age was a transitional phase between
the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age
The people of this age lived on hunting, fishing, and food gathering initially but later on they
also domesticated animals
The characteristic tools of this age were Microliths
The people of this age practised painting. The paintings depicted birds, animals, and human
beings. A considerable number of painted rock shelters have been found in Bhimbetka, Madhya
Pradesh
Mesolithic sites have been found in Rajasthan, south of the river Krishna, central and eastern
parts of India, and also in southern Uttar Pradesh
Bagor in Rajasthan and Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh are examples of Mesolithic sites in India

In Detail

The Mesolithic Age (9000 BC to 4000 BC), which means Middle Stone Age, was the second part of
the Stone Age. This age is characterized by the appearance of Microliths (small bladed stone tools).

This age was a transitional phase between the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age. The people of
this age lived on hunting, fishing, and food gathering and later on they also domesticated animals.
Thus, it has the characteristics of both the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age.

The word Mesolithic is a combination of Meso+lithic. The word Meso means middle. It is a Greek
word. The word lithic is related to the use of stone implements in a specified cultural period. It
originated from the Greek word lithikos which means stone.

Chronology

In India, it spanned around 9000 B.C. to 4000 B.C.

Characteristics

The Mesolithic Age was a transitional phase between the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age. It
has the characteristics of both the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age. The people of this age lived
on hunting, fishing, and food gathering while at a later stage they also domesticated animals.

Tools: The people of this age used microliths.

Art: The people of this age practiced painting. Their paintings depicted birds, animals, and human
beings.

Geographical Location
In India, Mesolithic sites have been found south of the river Krishna, Rajasthan, southern Uttar
Pradesh as well as in central and eastern parts of India.

Successor

The Mesolithic Age was succeeded by the Neolithic Age.

The list of Mesolithic sites, their locations, and characteristics are given below:

Name of Location Characteristics

Mesolithic Sites

Bagor Rajasthan It had a microlithic

industry and its
people lived on
hunting and
pastoralism.

Adamgarh Madhya Pradesh It shows the earliest

evidence for the
domestication of
animals.

Bhimbetka Madhya Pradesh It has more than

500 painted rock
shelters.

Langhnaj Gujarat Provides the earliest

evidence of burial
of the dead.

Mohrana Pahara Mirzapur, Uttar Provides the earliest

Pradesh evidence of burial.