MCQs Based On Ancient History – (07)

Correct Option: 3. Transition from food gathering to food production
Explanation: The Neolithic Revolution, a term coined by archaeologist V. Gordon Childe, refers to a transformative phase in human prehistory.
• It marks the shift from nomadic lifestyles based on hunting and gathering to settled life based on agriculture and domestication of animals.
• This allowed for permanent settlements, food surpluses, population growth, and the division of labour.
• People began cultivating crops such as wheat, barley, rice, ragi, and horse gram, and domesticating animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and dogs.
• It led to other innovations such as pottery making, weaving, spinning, and mud-brick architecture.
• This was a foundational shift that eventually enabled the rise of civilizations.

Correct Option: 3. Sohagighat
Explanation: The first discovery of prehistoric rock paintings in India was made in 1867 at Sohagighat, located in the Kaimur Hills of Uttar Pradesh.
• These paintings date to the Mesolithic Age and are drawn using natural pigments like red and white ochre.
• The scenes depict daily life, such as hunting, dancing, and animal interactions, often symbolizing ritual or social behavior.
• The discovery of rock art at Sohagighat sparked interest in exploring other rock shelters across India, leading to major discoveries at Bhimbetka, which later became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• These early artworks are crucial to understanding human creativity, spirituality, and cultural evolution.

Correct Option: 1. Polishing and grinding of stone tools
Explanation: The Neolithic Age (c. 6000 – 1000 BCE) brought with it major innovations in tool-making technology.
• Unlike earlier periods where tools were chipped and roughly shaped, Neolithic tools were polished, ground, and more durable.
• Tools like axes, adzes, hoes, and sickles were smoothed to reduce friction and improve functionality in agricultural tasks.
• This improvement in tool technology was crucial for clearing forests, tilling soil, and managing domesticated animals.
• It reflects the increasing complexity and specialization in early human societies.
• These tools were often region-specific: for example, rectangular axes in the northwest, shouldered hoes in the northeast, and pointed butt axes in the south.

Correct Option: 4. Bagor
Explanation: Bagor, located in Rajasthan on the Kothari River, is considered the largest Mesolithic site in India.
• Excavations have revealed over 5,000 microlithic tools, along with evidence of domesticated animals such as cattle and sheep.
• The site also shows semi-permanent structures, suggesting a move toward more settled lifestyles.
• Bagor is important because it provides a comprehensive picture of Mesolithic life, including tool-making, economy, social organization, and early domestication.
• Its location near water and its rich archaeological layers make it a crucial site for understanding prehistoric India.

Correct Option: 4. It is only associated with the Iron Age
Explanation: Bhimbetka, located in Madhya Pradesh, is one of the most important archaeological sites in India, especially known for its prehistoric rock shelters and cave paintings.
• It contains evidence from all three Stone Age phases: Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.
• Over 700 rock shelters have been identified, and many contain well-preserved paintings.
• The paintings reflect everyday life, hunting scenes, dances, animal figures, and rituals, spanning thousands of years.
• The site is not associated only with the Iron Age — it covers a much broader timeline, making option 4 incorrect.