Wheat and Barley
Explanation
The Sulaiman and Kirthar hills, located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent (in present-day Pakistan), are critical regions for understanding the early Neolithic transition. This period marks the shift from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture and animal domestication.
Detailed Analysis:
- Wheat and Barley: Archaeological evidence indicates that approximately 8000 years ago (circa 6000 BCE), early human settlements in the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills began cultivating founder crops. The first crops to be grown in this region were wheat and barley. This corresponds with findings from sites such as Mehrgarh, which is one of the earliest known Neolithic sites in the subcontinent.
- Rice: The cultivation of rice is historically associated with regions north of the Vindhyas (such as the Belan Valley sites like Koldihwa), rather than the northwestern hills during this specific timeframe.
- Maize: Maize is a crop native to the Americas (New World) and was not present in the Indian subcontinent during the prehistoric era.
Key Takeaway:
The earliest evidence of agriculture in the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills dates back to approximately 8000 years ago, characterized primarily by the cultivation of wheat and barley.