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India's recorded history begins around 6th century BC with the rise of Buddhism and Jainism. Therefore, the period prior to 6th century BC is known as pre-history. The last phase of pre-history has been given a new term proto-history to represent the transition phase, which starts from Indus Valley Civilization or Harappa Culture. Thus there are four major divisions of this period: pre-Indus Valley Civilization; the Indus Valley Civilization; the Vedic Age; and the Later Vedic Age.

Pre-Indus Valley Civilization

It has been roughly estimated that India has been inhabited by human beings since 500,000 BC.

The earliest period has been christened as Stone Age because the people used stone implements. Then came the Metal Age when human beings started using metal implements.

The Stone Age is further divided into two broad divisions - the Paloeolithic (Old stone) Age and the Neolithic (New Stone) Age.

The transition phase between the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age is called the Mesolithic Age, also known as Late Stone Age. The period is characterized by adaptation to a hunting, collecting, and economy based on the use of forest, lakeside, rivers etc.

The Paeleolithic Age ( up to 8,000 BC)

By 1939 definite traces of three or four Stone Age cultures were found only in certain part of the Punjab (now in Western Pakistan). The first artifacts were found along the banks of the river Sohan, a tributary of the river Sindhu.

Later, intensive study began in the foothills of the south-western Himalayas

Page last modified on Monday December 6, 2010 06:18:54 GMT-0000