An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c20.s1.t4: 15.1.6 General observations on Mesolithic fauna
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c20.s1.t4
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15.1.6 General observations on Mesolithic fauna
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The study of the faunal material from the above four Mesolithic sites suggests that the inhabitants were not only hunters but they also practised stock-raising. The economy of these people was mainly based on animals, both domesticated and wild. The inhabitants also exploited aquatic animals like the fish and tortoise for their food. The abundance of cultural material unearthed from all these sites shows that the people were self-sufficient in their economy. The inhabitants of Phases II and III at BAGOR gave more importance to domestication than to hunting. They used ornaments made of bone, especially the phalanges of small ruminants; drill marks on some phalanges are very distinct. The people also had a variety of bone tools.
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In most cases the changes in the anatomy of animals could not be studied because of the fragmentary nature of the bones. However whatever observations on the remains from BAGOR and LANGHNAJ are possible have been given above.
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[The Neolithic and subsequent faunal remains are of interest mainly for the history of domestication of animals, see 1.]
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Boessneck, J . 1969. in Brothwell, D., & Higgs, E., ed., *Science in Arch.*, London, pp. 331-58 (for osteological differences between sheep & goat). Clutton-Brock, J., 1965, *Excavations at Langhnaj : 1944-63*, 2, *The Fauna*, Poona Ellerman, J. R., & Morrison-Scott, T.C.S., 1951, *Checklist of Palaearctic & Indian Mammals*, Oxford. Marshall, J., 1931, *Mohenjo-daro & the Indus Civilization*, London, 2, pp. 649-73. Nath, B., 1967, *Animal Remains from Adamgarh Rock Shelters*, Bull. Indian Museum, Calcutta, 2, 1, pp. 29-37. Thomas, P.K., 1975, in Clason, A.T., ed., *Arch. Studies*, Amsterdam & New York, pp. 322-8. Zeuner, F.E., 1952, in *Man*, 182, pp. 1-3 (for Langhnaj).—G.L. BADAM