An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s5.5

v1.c9.s5.5

Though most of India had been occupied during the Lower Palaeolithic and the successive Palaeolithic periods [4.2-4], the Mesolithic peoples significantly extended this process of colonization. They ventured into virgin areas like the Ganga valley. Elsewhere they occupied new ecological niches, taking advantage of the new landscape created during the terminal Pleistocene [9.8.2] and filled in spaces previously left unoccupied. Thus the vast plains of Gujarat and Marwar dotted with sand-dunes were more intensively inhabited during the Mesolithic than at any time before. The same is true of the rocky plains of Mewar and the Deccan and c. India which is full of rock-shelters. The available evidence strongly suggests that there was a phenomenal expansion in human population during the period. While we are not in a position to say at this stage that this was caused by the introduction of new technology and consequently more efficient exploitation of food resources or to an improvement in climate and consequent increase in food resources or to some other causes, it is clear that the principal environments preferred by the Mesolithic peoples were the following