Mehrgarh
Explanation
The transition from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture and animal domestication marks the beginning of the Neolithic Age. In the Indian subcontinent, this transition is characterized by the emergence of permanent settlements, cultivation of crops like wheat and barley, and the domestication of animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats.
Site-wise Analysis
- Mehrgarh (Correct): Located on the Kachi Plain of Baluchistan (Pakistan) near the Bolan Pass, Mehrgarh provides the earliest known evidence of agricultural life in the Indian subcontinent. Archaeological findings date the settlement to approximately 7000 BCE. It reveals a continuous sequence of dwelling structures, granaries, and evidence of early dentistry, alongside the cultivation of wheat and barley and the domestication of cattle.
- Burzahom: Located in the Kashmir Valley, this site is a significant Neolithic settlement known for unique pit dwellings and the burial practice of placing dogs with their masters. However, its timeline (c. 3000 BCE) is much later than Mehrgarh.
- Daojali Hading: Situated in the Dima Hasao district of Assam, this site represents the Neolithic culture of Northeast India. It is characterized by polished stone tools and cord-marked pottery but does not predate the findings at Mehrgarh.
- Paiyampalli: Located in the Tirupattur district of Tamil Nadu, this site is associated with the Southern Neolithic culture. While it provides evidence of pulses and millet cultivation, its chronology is later than the early Neolithic phase observed at Mehrgarh.
Key Takeaway: Mehrgarh (c. 7000 BCE) is the earliest known Neolithic site in the Indian subcontinent, marking the first definitive evidence of the transition to settled agriculture and animal husbandry.