An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s6.3

v1.c9.s6.3

What is basic to our understanding is the palaeobiotic and palaeoclimatic factors which would be reflected in the growth-rate of desiccation and of population. Changes in man's relationship with the environment, land and himself would obviously have led him to experiment with a number of indigenous genera of plants of nutrient potential. Cultivation of cereals alone however cannot be considered sufficient for bringing about a change from the food-gathering to the food-producing economy. Hassan, 1976, pointed out that for an effective change of economy factors like diet and nutrition should be given due consideration. Cereals, unlike legumes and meat, are deficient in proteins (certain amino acids) and could not have provided an adequate substitute for food obtained from hunting. It is reasonable to argue therefore that at some stage hunting would have become highly selective. The association of cereals, legumes and domesticated animals thus should be considered as a fundamental adaptive element which contributed to the emergence of permanent sedentary agricultural settlements.