Unit 1.3: The Mesolithic Age of Telangana
Telangana History → Telangana History → Ancient Telangana → Ancient Telangana → Prehistoric Telangana | Author: admin | Jun 08, 2026
Definition
- Mesolithic Age = Middle Stone Age
- It is the transitional phase between the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages.
Chronology
| Period | Time |
|---|---|
| Mesolithic Age | 8,500 BCE – 3,000 BCE |
Major Features
- Transitional phase in human history.
- Continued hunting and gathering.
- Development of microlithic technology.
- Beginning of rock art and paintings.
Tools and Technology
Microlithic Age (Very Important)
The Mesolithic Age is also known as the Microlithic Age.
Main Tools
- Microliths (small stone tools)
- Arrowheads
- Spearheads
- Blades attached to wooden or bone handles
Importance
- Smaller and sharper than Paleolithic tools.
- Improved hunting efficiency.
Exam Fact: Mesolithic = Microlithic Age.
Art and Culture
Rock Paintings
- Humans began painting on rock shelters and cave walls.
-
Paintings mainly depicted:
- Hunting scenes
- Animals
- Daily life
Important Archaeological Site
Sanganoni Palli (Most Important)
- District: Mahabubnagar
- Site of the earliest (first-generation) Mesolithic rock paintings in Telangana.
Most Common Painting
- Deer
TGPSC Fact: If asked about the first evidence of rock paintings in Telangana, the answer is Sanganoni Palli (Mahabubnagar).
TGPSC One-Liners
- Mesolithic Age is also called the Microlithic Age.
- Period: 8,500 BCE–3,000 BCE.
- Characteristic tools: Microliths.
- Microliths were fixed to wooden or bone handles.
- First-generation rock paintings are found at Sanganoni Palli.
- Sanganoni Palli is in Mahabubnagar district.
- The most common subject in the paintings is the deer.
Comparison: Paleolithic vs Mesolithic
| Feature | Paleolithic | Mesolithic |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 2,00,000–8,500 BCE | 8,500–3,000 BCE |
| Stone Tools | Large, unpolished | Small microliths |
| Lifestyle | Hunter-gatherers | Hunter-gatherers with improved tools |
| Art | Little or no evidence | Rock paintings begin |
| Famous Site | Godavari Valley sites | Sanganoni Palli |
Mnemonics
1. Three M's
- Mesolithic
- Microlithic
- Mahabubnagar (Sanganoni Palli)
2. Sanganoni Palli → SD
- S → Sanganoni Palli
- D → Deer paintings
3. Mesolithic Features → MAP
- M → Microliths
- A → Art (Rock paintings)
- P → Paintings at Sanganoni Palli
Previous-Year TGPSC Focus Areas
- Chronology of the Mesolithic Age.
- Mesolithic = Microlithic Age.
- Characteristics of microliths.
- Earliest rock paintings in Telangana.
- Sanganoni Palli and its district (Mahabubnagar).
- Deer as the dominant subject of Mesolithic rock paintings.
Memory Map
Mesolithic (8,500–3,000 BCE)
→ Middle Stone Age
→ Microlithic Age
→ Small stone tools (microliths)
→ Bone/wooden handles
→ Rock paintings begin
→ Sanganoni Palli (Mahabubnagar)
→ Deer paintings