Prehistory and Protohistory in India and Pakistan c9.2

c9.2

WHILE announcing the general series of lectures, no specific mention was made of the Neolithic cultures. This was done advisedly. Even though the first neolith—a ground or polished stone implement—was found as far back as 1842¹ even after 100 years we really do not know much about the Neolithic Culture or Cultures in India. At best the various surface finds and some from the excavations can be plotted on a map and inferences may be drawn from the distribution pattern regarding the different types of tools and various cultural influences. This indeed is extremely inadequate and helps little in understanding the significance of a cultural stage which takes us to the very beginning of civilization.