Consider the following statements regarding the Neolithic tool kit: 1. It included tools polished to a fine cutting edge. 2. Mortars and pestles were introduced. 3. Bone tools were completely replaced by stone tools. 4. Palaeolithic tools were completely discarded. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct option is (a) 1 and 2 only. Explanation The Neolithic Age, or the New Stone Age, marked a significant shift in human history characterized by the "Neolithic Revolution." This period is defined by the transition from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture and animal domestication. This shift in subsistence pattern necessitated the development of new types of tools and technology to clear forests, till the land, and process agricultural produce. Statement-wise Analysis - Statement 1 is Correct: The hallmark of the Neolithic period is the use of polished stone tools. Unlike the chipped and flaked tools of the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic ages, Neolithic tools (such as celts, axes, and adzes) were ground and polished to achieve a fine, sharp cutting edge, making them more effective for felling trees and agricultural tasks. - Statement 2 is Correct: The introduction of agriculture required equipment to process grains and other plant foods. Mortars and pestles appear significantly in the archaeological record during this period for grinding grain. These tools have remained in use for food processing through subsequent ages up to the present day. - Statement 3 is Incorrect: Bone tools were not completely replaced; rather, their usage often became more sophisticated. Sites like Burzahom (Kashmir) and Chirand (Bihar) are renowned for the abundance of bone tools (such as needles, scrapers, and arrowheads) found alongside stone tools. - Statement 4 is Incorrect: Technological evolution in prehistory is generally cumulative. While new polished tools were introduced, tools of the Palaeolithic types (such as flake tools and blades) and Mesolithic microliths continued to be used for specific purposes where they remained effective. They were not completely discarded. Key Takeaway The Neolithic tool kit is distinguished by ground and polished stone tools (celts) and food-processing equipment like mortars and pestles, reflecting the needs of an agricultural society, while retaining the usage of bone tools and earlier lithic technologies.

Consider the following statements regarding the Neolithic tool kit: 1. It… - NCERT Class 6 History MCQ

NCERT Class 6 History — Chapter 2: From gathering to growing food

mcqmedium

Consider the following statements regarding the Neolithic tool kit:

It included tools polished to a fine cutting edge.
Mortars and pestles were introduced.
Bone tools were completely replaced by stone tools.
Palaeolithic tools were completely discarded.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

NCERT textbook question

From NCERT Our Past -1 · Page 26

Options

A1 and 2 only
B2 and 3 only
C3 and 4 only
D1, 2, 3 and 4

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is (a) 1 and 2 only.

Explanation

The Neolithic Age, or the New Stone Age, marked a significant shift in human history characterized by the "Neolithic Revolution." This period is defined by the transition from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture and animal domestication. This shift in subsistence pattern necessitated the development of new types of tools and technology to clear forests, till the land, and process agricultural produce.

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Correct: The hallmark of the Neolithic period is the use of polished stone tools. Unlike the chipped and flaked tools of the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic ages, Neolithic tools (such as celts, axes, and adzes) were ground and polished to achieve a fine, sharp cutting edge, making them more effective for felling trees and agricultural tasks.
Statement 2 is Correct: The introduction of agriculture required equipment to process grains and other plant foods. Mortars and pestles appear significantly in the archaeological record during this period for grinding grain. These tools have remained in use for food processing through subsequent ages up to the present day.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: Bone tools were not completely replaced; rather, their usage often became more sophisticated. Sites like Burzahom (Kashmir) and Chirand (Bihar) are renowned for the abundance of bone tools (such as needles, scrapers, and arrowheads) found alongside stone tools.
Statement 4 is Incorrect: Technological evolution in prehistory is generally cumulative. While new polished tools were introduced, tools of the Palaeolithic types (such as flake tools and blades) and Mesolithic microliths continued to be used for specific purposes where they remained effective. They were not completely discarded.

Key Takeaway

The Neolithic tool kit is distinguished by ground and polished stone tools (celts) and food-processing equipment like mortars and pestles, reflecting the needs of an agricultural society, while retaining the usage of bone tools and earlier lithic technologies.

Your note

More from Chapter 2: From gathering to growing food

Consider the following statements regarding the archaeological evidence found at Burzahom: 1. The inhabitants built pit-houses dug into the ground with steps leading into them. 2. Cooking hearths were found only inside the huts, suggesting a strict indoor cooking culture. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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What was the primary reason for early Neolithic farmers to lead a sedentary lifestyle?

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Consider the following statements regarding the transition to a settled life: 1. People began weaving cloth using materials like cotton. 2. Earthen pots were used for cooking grains like rice and wheat. 3. Palaeolithic types of tools were completely abandoned in favor of Neolithic tools. 4. The transition to farming happened simultaneously everywhere in the subcontinent. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Archaeological evidence of 'Green Gram' has been recovered from which of the following Neolithic sites?

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Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below: List I | List II A. Koldihwa | 1. Millet, cattle, sheep, goat, pig B. Gufkral | 2. Wheat and Lentil C. Hallur | 3. Wheat, green gram, barley D. Chirand | 4. Rice and fragmentary animal bones

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