The Neolithic Age, also known as the New Stone Age, was a period in human history characterized by the development of agriculture, the domestication of animals, and the use of stone tools. This period followed the Paleolithic Age, or Old Stone Age, during which humans primarily relied on hunting and gathering for their subsistence.
The Neolithic Age is thought to have begun around 10,000 BC in the Fertile Crescent, a region that encompasses parts of modern-day Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. From here, the Neolithic way of life spread to other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and Africa.
One of the most significant developments of the Neolithic Age was the emergence of agriculture. Prior to this period, humans were primarily hunter-gatherers, relying on the resources of the natural environment to sustain themselves. However, the Neolithic people began to cultivate crops and raise animals, which allowed them to settle in one place and form more complex societies. This shift towards agriculture also led to the development of more advanced tools and technologies, such as the plow and the wheel.
In addition to the development of agriculture, the Neolithic Age also saw the domestication of animals. This included the domestication of animals such as cows, sheep, and goats, which provided a reliable source of food and other resources for human communities. The domestication of animals also facilitated trade and the exchange of goods and ideas between different societies.
The Neolithic Age is also known for the widespread use of stone tools, which were used for a variety of purposes including hunting, farming, and the construction of shelters. These stone tools were made from a variety of materials, including flint, obsidian, and quartz, and were often crafted with great precision and skill.
Overall, the Neolithic Age was a significant period in human history, marked by the development of agriculture, the domestication of animals, and the use of stone tools. These developments allowed for the emergence of more complex societies and laid the foundation for the technological and cultural advancements of subsequent periods.
Neolithic – New Stone age
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. All these rapid changes brought a decline in hunting and gather activities, and agriculture, animal husbandry, and pottery were on in full swing. This process allowed for very fine control, producing narrower and sharper tips. Early development occurred in the Levant for example, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A and Pre-Pottery Neolithic B and from there spread eastwards and westwards. Adzes are made of ground or polished stones, flaked stones, shells, animal bones, copper, bronze or iron metals. Few pot sherds of thick fabric and hand-made variety accompany these.
Neolithic vs Palaeolithic Period
However, the end of this period led to numerous changes including the extinction of large mammals, rising sea levels, climate change, and migration. In other parts of the world, such as Africa, India and Southeast Asia, independent domestication events led to their own regionally-distinctive Neolithic cultures which arose completely independent of those in Europe and Southwest Asia. Like Paleolithic paintings, these also depict animals and hunting scenes Lifestyle An image of lifestyle during the Neolithic Period Source: Wikimedia Common The Paleolithic lived in the mouths of caves, huts and tents made of animal skins. The Neolithic period was when people got better at farming. Anjira, Rana Ghundai and many other mounds show this common feature of a Neolithic growing out of a pastoral base.
10 Facts About the Neolithic Age
These ranged from 1780 B. Since its origin, the dominant pattern in these separate regions is the spread of agricultural economies and the reduction of hunting and gathering activities, to the point that today hunting economies only persist in marginal areas where farming is not possible, such as frozen arctic regions, densely forested areas, or arid deserts. Earlier Sharma had reported 12 more sites from the same area which includes celts, chisels, axes and hammer stones. Axe was used for logging, processing of beams for cribs, dwellings, during the construction of cribs, during making of enclosures for captured animals, as well as for making of rafts, boats, skis and sleds. It marks the beginning of the end of the Stone Age.
