"In a country of the size and environmental diversity like ours, it is impossible to postulate a uniform development of culture in time and space" [Sonawane2002].
With this caveat, India's stages of cultural development, i.e. its
Prehistoric and Protohistoric Periods can be divided into the following time
periods (Also see my comments in the Notes section below):
| Period |
Sub Period |
Dates
(Years) |
Geological
Epoch* |
Comments |
| Paleolithic |
Lower Paleolithic |
600,000 BP to 70,000 BP |
Pleistocene |
This estimation of dates may change because recently a substantially older date (in excess of 1.0 myr) has been suggested for Isampur (Blackwell et al, 2001) and the lowest levels at Attirampakkam also seem likely to prove much earlier than expected (S. Pappu, 2001).
Mostly Acheulian culture. Some Soan culture, in the Siwalik Hills.
|
| Middle Paleolithic |
70,000 BP to 30,000 BP |
| Upper Paleolithic |
30,000 BP to 10,000 BCE |
| Mesolithic** |
10,000 BCE to 2,500 BCE |
Holocene |
Last Ice Age ends. Climate improves. Very Prosperous Period. |
| Neolithic |
8,000 BCE to 4,000 BCE |
Holocene |
Mehergarh is the first Neolithic site discovered so far. |
| Chalcolithic |
4,000 to 700 BCE |
Holocene |
Start of the proto-historic period. Harappan civization. Script, but still undeciphered. |
| Iron Age |
1,100 BCE to 300 BCE |
Holocene |
There appear to be some sites dated earlier - 14th. to 16th. Cent. BCE (C14 dates). |
| Historic Period |
300 BCE to Present |
Holocene |
Brahmi and Kharoshti scripts used by Emperor Ashok. However, there has been a sample of Brahmi reported from Ceylon which is tentatively dated 600BCE [K A R Kennedy] |
Note: 2.4 MA BP is the Beginning of the Quaternary Period. However, I have seen dates ranging from 1.6 MA BP to 2.4 MA BP for the start of the period.
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Notes