We define the inhabitants in the subcontinent two million years ago as hunter-gatherers. They were named such because they hunted wild animals, caught fish and birds, collected fruit, roots, nuts, seeds, leaves, stalks and eggs for nourishment. Needless to say, the early humans were hunter-gatherers. Since they lived in the open, they had to hunt other animals, gather plants and fruits to sustain life. The animals were very quick and fast in that period. To live among them, the early people had to be as quick, alert, and have great courage. As collectors, they had an excellent knowledge of plants and fruits. In view of these facts and practices, they relocated from one place to another. The causes of their nomadic life were as follows:
Resources such as food often got exhausted in a particular location after some time. This caused people to move from place to place in search of a more thriving location.
As the animals moved from one stretch of land to another, so did the early humans. Travelling from one place to another was good for hunting.
The plant life was seasonal, and in order to obtain a continual supply of food and plants that had to migrate.
As rivers and ponds ran dry in the heat of the summer, people had to keep moving in order to have a supply of freshwater
How do we Know about these People?
Archaeological excavations have found some of the items hunter-gatherers have made and used. They designed and used tools of stone, wood and bone, the stone tools of which managed to survive best.
Stone tools were being used to cut meat and bones, chop fruit and roots, scrape bark from trees and hides from animal skins.
Other tools have been used to chop wood.
Choosing a Place to Live in
Hunter-gatherers preferred to live in places with the following availability.
They resided near water bodies, such as rivers and lakes.
People searched for places where the high-quality stone was readily available, as it was essential for hunting.
Finding out about the Fire
The discovery of fire has altered the very fabric of human life. Definitely, human life has changed dramatically after its discovery. People must have figured to use fire after observing the flames of a forest fire. It may also be likely that people have learned to make fire by rubbing two stones together while shaping them. It was used for various purposes, such as cooking, clearing the forest and protection from animals. Traces of soot reveal that the fire was used at that time. It could have been used for the following:
As a light source
Roast meat
To scare off the animals
A Changing Environment
Approximately 12,000 years earlier, the climate of the world underwent radical changes, resulting in the development of grasslands in many areas. It also led to a rise in the number of animals that could survive on the grass. So, people started to think about the herding and rearing of these animals. Fishing also became important to people.
The Beginning of Farming and Herding
As grassland developed, people came to know about growing crops like wheat, barley, and rice in various regions of the subcontinent. That's how they began farming. Humans also lured and tamed animals by leaving food near their dwellings. The first animal to be domesticated was the dog's wild ancestor. Animals such as sheep, pigs, cattle, and goats also lived in herds, and almost all of them ate grass. People often sheltered these animals from threats by other wild animals. This is how they became herders.
A New Way of Life
People often had to continue to stay in the same location for a long period looking after watering, plants, weeding, scaring away animals and birds – till the grains were harvested. Then they began to think about storing grain for food and seed. They started to develop large clay pots, or tie baskets, or dig holes in the earth.
Towards a Settled Life
Archaeological excavations have discovered artefacts from huts or houses in some places that suggest that people had a stable life.
They also discovered cooking hearths in and around the huts, suggesting that, depending on the season, people used to cook indoors or outdoors.
Stone tools have been identified from a number of sites. Many of these are different from the old Paleolithic tools, and that's why they're called Neolithic. These include equipment that has been polished to give a fine blade, and mortars and pestles. Mortars and pestles are still used for grinding. Other than these tools, some of the tools were made of bone.
Various kinds of clay pots have also been discovered. They were used for decorative purposes and storage.
People also began to weave cloth, using various kinds of materials.
A Closer Look – Living and Dying in Mehrgarh
Mehrgarh has been one of the locations where humans first learned to grow barley and wheat and to rear sheep and goats in this region. A lot of animal bones have been found in this village. Other discoveries in Mehrgarh include the remnants of square or rectangular houses. When men die, they pay respect to their relatives and friends. The dead person was laid to rest with goats, which were probably supposed to serve as food in the next world. Many other burial sites were identified at Mehrgarh.
FAQs on Story of the Earliest People
1. What is the 'Story of the Earliest People' about in Class 6 History?
This chapter explores the lives of the earliest humans who lived on the Indian subcontinent as far back as two million years ago. It focuses on how these people, known as hunter-gatherers, obtained their food, the stone tools they created, where they lived, and how we know about their existence through archaeological evidence like fossils, tools, and cave paintings.
2. Who were hunter-gatherers and why are they called so?
Hunter-gatherers were the earliest people who lived by obtaining food directly from their environment. They are called this because their survival depended on two main activities:
Hunting: They hunted wild animals for meat.
Gathering: They collected plant produce such as fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, and leaves, as well as catching fish and birds.
This way of life required a deep knowledge of local plants and animal behaviour.
3. Why did the earliest people constantly move from place to place?
The earliest people were nomadic and moved for several important reasons related to survival:
Resource Depletion: Staying in one area for too long would exhaust the available plant and animal resources.
Following Animal Herds: They had to follow the migration patterns of the animals they hunted, such as deer and wild cattle.
Seasonal Foods: Different plants bear fruit in different seasons, so people moved to gather them as they became available.
Need for Water: They needed to live near sources of water like rivers and lakes, and would move if a source dried up.
4. How do archaeologists know about the lives of hunter-gatherers?
Archaeologists learn about the earliest people by studying the things they left behind. These sources of information include:
Stone Tools: The shape, material, and technology of tools reveal what they were used for (e.g., chopping meat, scraping bark, or cutting wood).
Archaeological Sites: These are places where remains of past life are found, such as factory sites (where tools were made), habitation sites (where people lived), or both.
Rock Paintings: Cave paintings, like those at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, depict scenes of hunting and daily life, offering clues about their culture and beliefs.
Fossils: The preserved remains of plants, animals, and humans provide direct evidence of what life was like.
5. What were the main divisions of the Stone Age?
The Stone Age, named for the prevalence of stone tools, is divided into three main periods based on the type and quality of tools used:
Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age): From 2 million to 12,000 years ago. Tools were large and crude, often made using the stone-on-stone technique.
Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age): From 12,000 to 10,000 years ago. This period saw environmental changes and the development of tiny, sharp stone tools called microliths.
Neolithic (New Stone Age): Starting from about 10,000 years ago. This period is marked by the beginning of agriculture, settled life, and the use of polished, well-shaped tools.
6. How did the discovery and use of fire change the lives of the earliest people?
The discovery and control of fire was a major turning point for early humans. It transformed their lives in several ways:
Source of Light: Fire provided light, allowing them to see and work inside dark caves.
Cooking Food: It was used to roast meat, which made food tastier, easier to digest, and safer to eat.
Protection: Fire was used to scare away wild and dangerous animals, increasing their safety.
Warmth: It provided warmth during cold weather, allowing humans to survive in colder climates.
7. What is the importance of the rock paintings found at Bhimbetka?
The rock paintings at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh are important because they provide a rare glimpse into the cultural and social lives of the earliest people. These paintings, found on the walls of caves and rock shelters, show wild animals drawn with great accuracy, as well as scenes of hunting, dancing, and community activities. They suggest that early humans had leisure time, a sense of art and ritual, and lived in communities to hunt and protect each other.
8. What is the difference between a 'habitation site' and a 'factory site'?
In archaeology, sites are places where people lived or worked in the past. The difference is based on the primary activity that took place there:
A habitation site is a place where people lived for extended periods. These are often caves or rock shelters that provided protection from the elements.
A factory site is a location where people made stone tools. These sites are identified by the presence of unfinished tools, chips of waste stone, and blocks of raw material. Sometimes, people lived at these sites too, making them habitation-cum-factory sites.
