Definition

• Neolithic Age = New Stone Age
• Marks the beginning of settled agricultural life in Telangana.
• Humans shifted from food gathering to food production.

Chronology

Major Features

• Permanent settlements developed.
• Agriculture became the primary occupation.
• Animal domestication expanded.
• Bone tools became common.
• Early use of copper and bronze began toward the end of the period.

Agriculture

Major Crops

• Jowar (Sorghum)
• Ragi (Finger millet)
• Horse gram
• Black gram

Exam Fact: Millets and legumes were the principal crops of Neolithic Telangana.

Animal Husbandry

• Cattle rearing became an important occupation.
• Evidence is confirmed through ash mounds formed by burning animal dung.

Tools and Technology

Main Implements

• Polished stone tools
• Bone implements

Metal Transition

Towards the later Neolithic period:

• Copper tools
• Bronze tools

This marks the beginning of early metallurgy in Telangana.

Burial Practices

Important Features

• Dead were buried with their heads facing north.
• Infants were buried in earthen pots (pot burials).

TGPSC Fact: Pot burials are a characteristic feature of Neolithic infant burials.

Important Archaeological Sites

1. Utnoor (Most Important)

Discovery

• Ash mounds (burnt animal dung)

Significance

• Strong evidence of cattle rearing.

2. Hyderabad Central University (HCU)

Discovery

• Burial ground dating to approximately 4,250 years ago.
• Food grains found inside burials.

Importance

• Considered the first such discovery in India.

3. Nagarjunakonda

Discovery

• Two infants buried inside a single pot.

Importance

• Evidence of Neolithic pot burials.

TGPSC One-Liners

• Neolithic Age is called the New Stone Age.
• Period: 3,000 BCE–1,500 BCE.
• Humans adopted settled agriculture.
• Main crops: Jowar, Ragi, Horse gram, Black gram.
• Bone tools became common.
• Copper and bronze appeared in the later Neolithic.
• Dead were buried with heads facing north.
• Infants were buried in earthen pots.
• Utnoor is famous for ash mounds.
• Ash mounds indicate cattle rearing.
• HCU burial site dates to about 4,250 years ago.
• Food grains found in HCU burials are the first such evidence in India.
• Nagarjunakonda is famous for infant pot burials.

Stone Age Comparison

Mnemonics

1. UNH (Important Neolithic Sites)

• U → Utnoor → Ash mounds & Cattle
• N → Nagarjunakonda → Infant pot burials
• H → Hyderabad Central University → 4,250-year-old burials with food grains

2. Neolithic Features → SABC

• S → Settled life
• A → Agriculture
• B → Bone tools
• C → Cattle rearing

3. Crops → JRHB

• J → Jowar
• R → Ragi
• H → Horse gram
• B → Black gram

Previous-Year TGPSC Focus Areas

1. Chronology of the Neolithic Age.
2. Transition to settled agriculture.
3. Major crops cultivated.
4. Importance of bone implements.
5. Introduction of copper and bronze.
6. Utnoor and ash mounds.
7. HCU excavation and food grains.
8. Nagarjunakonda and infant pot burials.
9. Direction of Neolithic burials (north-facing heads).

Memory Map

Neolithic (3,000–1,500 BCE)

→ New Stone Age
→ Settled life
→ Agriculture (Jowar, Ragi, Horse gram, Black gram)
→ Cattle rearing
→ Bone tools → Later Copper & Bronze
→ North-facing burials
→ Infant pot burials
→ Utnoor → Ash mounds
→ HCU → 4,250-year-old burials with food grains
→ Nagarjunakonda → Infant pot burials