Prehistory and Protohistory in India and Pakistan c5.s8: Neolithic

c5.s8.1

The term "Neolithic" denotes, as now understood, a stage when man did not have the knowledge of copper, but had begun to domesticate a few animals, make pottery, practice primitive agriculture with or without ground or polished stone implements. The last is not an invariable feature of the Neolithic either in India or anywhere else. The most important characteristics are some kind of permanent habitation and production of food. With this yardstick, certain areas in the present States of Andhra-Karnatak-Mysore as well as in Orissa-Bihar-Assam and Kashmir may be grouped into the South-eastern and Eastern Neolithic, though it must be emphasized that the evidence is not at all of a uniform nature. Sharp, clear cut distributions are at present not possible and perhaps can never be had.