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Test your knowledge with Stone Age – Old Year Questions & Answers.
The Stone Age, spanning from approximately 2.5 million years ago to around 4,000 BCE, was a period characterized by the use of stone tools and the development of early human societies. It witnessed remarkable advancements in technology, the emergence of art and symbolism, and the birth of human innovation.
In this series, we will explore the key aspects of the Stone Age, including its subdivisions such as the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods. We will uncover the daily lives of our ancient ancestors, their hunting and gathering practices, their spiritual beliefs, and the challenges they faced in their quest for survival.
“Stone Age – Old Year Questions & Answers” aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of this crucial chapter in human history. Whether you are a student, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about the origins of our species, this series will help you in all the prelims exams whether it is UPSC or State PSCs.
1. Robert Bruce Foote, who discovered the first Palaeolithic tool in India was an –
(a) Geologist
(b) Archaeologist
(c) Paleobotanist
(d) Historian
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (a & b) Geologist & Archaeologist
- Robert Bruce Foote was an important British geologist and archaeologist.
- He is often referred to as the “father of Indian pre-history” because of his work with the Geological Survey and research on the ancient stone age.
- Both options (a) and (b) are accurate descriptions of his achievements.
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2. The three-age system, which is divided into stone, bronze and iron from the collection of the Copenhagen Museum was coined by –
(a) Thomson
(b) Lubbock
(c) Taylor
(d) Childe
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (a) Thomson
- Christian Jurgensen Thomsen, a Danish archaeologist, created the classic system of three main ages (stone, bronze, and iron) in the early 1800s.
- He then organized artifacts for a museum in 1836.
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3. According to the excavated evidence, the domestication of animals began in –
(a) Lower Palaeolithic period
(b) Middle Palaeolithic period
(c) Upper Palaeolithic period
(d) Mesolithic period
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
Ans. (d) Mesolithic period
- The digging up of artifacts shows that animals were first tamed in the Mesolithic period.
- The oldest proof of this taming of animals in India were discovered at Adamgarh (Hoshangabad, M.P.) and Bagor (Bhilwara, Rajasthan).
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Q 4. Which among the following sites provides evidence of the domestication of animals in the Mesolithic period?
(a) Odai
(b) Bori
(c) Bagor
(d) Lakhnia
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (c) Bagor
- Research has shown that animals were first domesticated during the Mesolithic period.
- The earliest signs of domesticated animals in India were found at Adamgarh (Hoshangabad, M.P.) and Bagor (Bhilwara, Rajasthan).
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5. In the Mesolithic context, evidence of animal domestication has been found at :
(a) Langhnaj
(b) Birbhanpur
(c) Adamgarh
(d) Chopani Mando
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (c) Adamgarh
- The evidence dug up shows that animals were first domesticated during the Mesolithic period.
- The oldest pieces of evidence for this in India were discovered at Adamgarh (Hoshangabad, M.P.) and Bagor (Bhilwara, Rajasthan).
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6. From which one of the following sites bone implements have been found?
(a) Chopani-Mando
(b) Kakoria
(c) Mahadaha
(d) Sarai Nahar Rai
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (c & d) Mahadaha & Sarai Nahar Rai
- Many tools and decorations made of bones and horns were discovered from the Mesolithic sites of Mahadaha and Sarai Nahar Rai (in the Pratapgarh district of U.P.).
- Dr. Jai Narayan Pandey’s book, ‘Puratattva Vimarsh’, talks about the various pointed objects and ornaments made of bones that have been located in Sarai Nahar Rai, Damdama and Mahadaha.
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7. Bone ornaments in the Mesolithic context in India have been obtained from –
(a) Sarai Nahar Rai
(b) Mahadaha
(c) Lekhahia
(d) Chopani Mando
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2013]
Ans. (a & b) Sarai Nahar Rai & Mahadaha
- Various tools and decorations made of bones and horns have been found from two archaeological sites in the Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, called Mahadaha and Sarai Nahar Rai.
- Dr Jai Narayan Pandey wrote a book called ‘Puratattva Vimarsh’ which talks about the pointed objects and ornaments made of bones that were discovered in Sarai Nahar Rai, Damdama and Mahadaha.
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8. Three human skeletons in a single grave were recovered at –
(a) Sarai Nahar Rai
(b) Damdama
(c) Mahadaha
(d) Langhnaj
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (b) Damdama
- In Damdama, located in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, 41 human graves were found, with 5 of them being double burials and one triple burial.
- Additionally, a grave with four human skeletons was discovered at Sarai Nahar Rai.
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9. The cultivation of cereals first started in –
(a) Neolithic Age
(b) Mesolithic Age
(c) Palaeolithic Age
(d) Proto-Historic Age
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
Ans. (a) Neolithic Age
- Grains were first grown during the Neolithic Age, when people started farming.
- Evidence of rice and wheat was discovered in two Neolithic villages: Koldihwa and Mehrgarh.
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10. During the Neolithic Age, the earliest evidence of the origin of agriculture has been found at which of the following place in the North-Western region of the Indian sub-continent?
(a) Munidgak
(b) Mehargarh
(c) Damb Sadat
(d) Balakot
(e) Amri
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (b) Mehargarh
- Grains were first created during the Neolithic Age.
- This was when people began farming.
- Koldihwa and Mehrgarh were two villages from this time period that had evidence of rice and wheat.
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11. The earliest evidence of man in India is found in
(a) Nilgiri Hills
(b) Shiwalik Hills
(c) Nallamala Hills
(d) Narmada Valley
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]
Ans. (d) Narmada Valley
- In 1982, scientists in India found the earliest evidence of human activity in the western Narmada region of Madhya Pradesh.
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12. The first cereal used by man was :
(a) Wheat
(b) Rice
(c) Barley
(d) Sorghum
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]
Ans. (c) Barley
- Humans consume 8 types of grains, such as barley, wheat, maize, millet, sorghum, mustard, oat and rice.
- These were originally weeds found in different places and were later grown as seeds by humans at various times.
- Barley was the first grain to be cultivated around 8000 B.C. in the Middle East.
- Wheat was also grown there around the same time.
- Rice was grown in China near the Yangtze River in approx. 7000 B.C., maize in Central and South America in 6000 B.C., millet in 5500 B.C. in China, sorghum in 5000 B.C. in East Africa, mustard in 5000 B.C. in South-East Asia and oat in 2300 B.C. in Europe.
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13. The earliest evidence of agriculture in the Indian subcontinent comes from –
(a) Koldihwa
(b) Lahuradeva
(c) Mehrgarh
(d) Tokwa
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) Lahuradeva
- Recent studies have revealed that the earliest evidence of agriculture in India was discovered at the site of Lahuradeva in the Sant Kabir Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
- This evidence of human activity and the start of rice cultivation here dates back to around 7000-9000 B.C. Previously, more ancient evidence of wheat was found in Mehrgarh (located in Balochistan, Pakistan) from around 7000 B.C., and the earliest proof of rice is believed to come from the Belan river in Allahabad district, where rice bran was discovered from 6500 B.C.
- Therefore, if Lahuradeva is an option, it is the correct answer, and if not, then Mehrgarh is the right answer.
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14. With reference to the cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh, which of the following statement/s is/are correct?
(1) The oldest evidence of agriculture in the global context has been obtained from many excavated sites in this region.
(2) The oldest cultivated food grains are barley and paddy.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below –
Code –
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre.) 2021]
Ans (a) Only 1
- The oldest evidence of agriculture was found in Lahuradev, a district in Uttar Pradesh.
- The food grains found were barley and wheat, making option (a) the correct answer.
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15. Name the site which has revealed the earliest evidence of settled life?
(a) Dholavira
(b) Kile Gul Mohammad
(c) Kalibangan
(d) Mehrgarh
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (d) Mehrgarh
- Mehrgarh is a Neolithic age site that was located near the Bolan Pass on the Kacchi Plains of Balochistan, Pakistan.
- Mehrgarh is situated near the west of the river Indus and between the presently, Pakistani cities of Sibi, Kalat, and Quetta.
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16. The earliest evidence of agriculture in the Indian Subcontinent has been obtained from –
(a) Brahmagiri
(b) Burzahom
(c) Koldihwa
(d) Mehrgarh
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (d) Mehrgarh
- The earliest evidence of farming on this site has been suggesting that a civilization existed in the site of Mehrgarh as early as 7000 BCE.
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17. The earliest evidence of Agriculture in the Indian subcontinent is found at
(a) Lothal
(b) Harappa
(c) Mehrgarh
(d) Mundigak
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
Ans. (c) Mehrgarh
- The earliest evidence of farming on this site has been suggesting that a civilization existed in the site of Mehrgarh as early as 7000 BCE.
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18. Which one of the following periods is also known as Chalcolithic Age?
(a) Old Stone Age
(b) New Stone Age
(c) Copper Age
(d) Iron Age
[44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000]
Ans. (c) Copper Age
- The Copper Age is sometimes called the Chalcolithic Age.
- It is the time period when people used copper tools in addition to stone tools.
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19. The cultural remains from Stone Age to Harappan Civilization have been obtained from which one of the following ancient sites?
(a) Amri
(b) Mehrgarh
(c) Kotdiji
(d) Kalibangan
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) Mehrgarh
- Artifacts from the Stone Age to the Harappan Civilization have been found in Mehrgarh, which is located in Balochistan, Pakistan.
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20. Excavation at Navadatoli was conducted by –
(a) K.D. Bajpai
(b) V.S. Wakankar
(C) H.D. Sankalia
(d) Mortimer Whéeler
[U.P. Lower Spl. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (c) H.D. Sankalia
- Navdatoli, near Indore in Madhya Pradesh, has revealed evidence of both round and rectangular houses.
- The round huts were about 3m in diameter and the rectangular huts were 2m x 2.2m.
- The roofs were made of leaves, branches, and hay, supported by large wooden posts placed at intervals around the huts.
- The floors were made of silt clay and gravel, and were coated with lime.
- The hutshad ‘chulhas’ and storage jars, and were dated to be between 1600 B.C. and 1300 B.C.
- This was the most extensively excavated rural Chalcolithic site in the Indian subcontinent.
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21. In which state, the Navdatoli is located?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Chhattisgarh
(d) Madhya Pradesh
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
Ans. (d) Madhya Pradesh
- At the Navdatoli site near Indore (Madhya Pradesh), archaeologists found evidence of round and rectangular houses.
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22. In which state of India is the Harappan Civilization site Mandi situated?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Haryana
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Uttar Pradesh
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021]
Ans (d) Uttar Pradesh
- Mandi is a place in western Uttar Pradesh, close to the Yamuna River, which is considered peripheral to the main distribution area of the Harappan Civilization.
- D.V. Sharma did excavations there in 1999-2000 and discovered jewelry.
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23. Consider the following statements pertaining to the Ahar Civilization –
A. The natives of Ahar knew copper smelting
B. Rice was unknown to them
C. Metalwork was one of the means of the economy of the Ahar
D. Black – Red coloured pottery has been found here, on which generally white-coloured geometrical designs have been carved.
Choose the correct option –
(a) A, C and D are correct
(b) A and B are correct
(c) A, B and C are correct
(d) C and D are correct
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre.) 2021]
Ans (a) A, C and D are correct
- The Ahar civilization was part of the Chalcolithic period and was located in the Mewar region of Rajasthan.
- They used copper tools and evidence of copper smelting has been found, so (A) and (C) are true.
- Rice was known to them, so (B) is wrong.
- Pottery with black-red color and white geometric designs has been found, so (D) is also true.
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24. Megaliths have been identified as-
(a) Caves for hermits
(b) Burial sites
(c) Temple sites
(d) None of the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
Ans. (b) Burial sites
- Megaliths are large stones used as gravestones or memorials in cemeteries that are away from where people live.
- Examples of megaliths are chamber tombs, dolmens, stone arrangements, stone circles, and pit circles.
- They are thought to be connected to burial and remembrance rituals for those who may or may not be buried there.
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25. Ash mound is associated with the Neolithic site at –
(a) Budihal
(b) Sangana Kallu
(c) Koldihwa
(d) Brahmagiri
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
Ans. (b) Sangana Kallu
- Remains of Ash mound from the Neolithic period have been discovered in Sangana Kallu (Vellari district near Mysore, Karnataka), Piklihal and Utnur.
- These ash mounds are believed to have belonged to a herdsman community during this time.
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26. ‘Bhimbetka’ is famous for –
(a) Rock Paintings
(b) Buddhist Statues
(c) Minerals
(d) Origin of Son River
[M.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2004]
Ans. (a) Rock Paintings
- The Bhimbetka rock shelters are located 45 km outside of Bhopal.
- They have been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List because of the ancient paintings of animals, such as elephants, sambhar, and deer.
- There are a total of 133 paintings spread across 700 different shelters.
- These shelters are some of the oldest evidence of human life in India.
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27. In India, from which rock shelter, pictures have been found the most?
(a) Ghagharia
(b) Bhimbetka
(c) Lekhahia
(d) Adamgarh
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) Bhimbetka
- Bhimbetka is listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site.
- It has many rock shelters with pictures of animals like elephants, deer, and sambhar.
- In total, there are 700 shelters and 133 pictures.
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28. Which one of the following places is famous for pre-historic paintings?
(a) Ajanta
(b) Bhimbetka
(c) Bagh
(d) Amravati
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011,Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Mains) 2007]
Ans. (b) Bhimbetka
- Bhimbetka, located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, is the best example of prehistoric paintings.
- It is located in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains in the south of the central Indian plateau.
- The paintings of Ajanta and Bagh date back to after the Mauryan period, while Amravati, known for its cairn architecture, is thought to have been built during the Shunga or Satavahana period.
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29. Where are the caves of Bhimbetka situated?
(a) Bhopal
(b) Pachmarhi
(c) Singrauli
(d) Abdullahganj-Raisen
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (d) Abdullahganj-Raisen
- The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka is 45 kilometres south-east of Bhopal and 9 km from Abdullahganj city in the Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh
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30. Which of the following Indian Archaeologists first visited ‘Bhimbetka Caves’ and discovered the prehistoric significance of its rock paintings?
(a) Madho Swaroop Vatsa
(b) H.D. Sankalia
(c) V.S. Wakankar
(d) V.N. Mishra
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (c) V.S. Wakankar
- The ‘Bhimbetka Caves’ are situated in the Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh.
- They are a great example of artwork from prehistoric times, discovered by V.S. Wakankar in 1957.
- It is an officially recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its remarkable ancient rock paintings.
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31. Bhimbetka was discovered by
(a) Dr. H.D. Sankhalia
(b) Dr. Shyam Sundar Nigam
(c) Dr. Vishnudhar Vakankar
(d) Dr. Rajbali Pandey
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2020]
Ans (c) Dr. Vishnudhar Vakankar
- The Bhimbetka Caves are renowned for their prehistoric rock paintings, which were discovered by V.S. Wakankar in 1957.
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32. The Ochre-coloured Pottery (O.C.P.) was christened at:
(a) Hastinapur
(b) Ahichhatra
(c) Noh
(d) Red Fort
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
Ans. (a) Hastinapur
- In 1951, B.B. Lal discovered and named Ochre-Coloured Pottery (OCP) at Hastinapur.
- OCP is recognizable by its ochre color, porous texture, and edges that appear to be worn out.
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33. In the Chalcolithic period, the people of Maharashtra buried their dead under the floor of their houses in the following orientation:
(a) North to South position
(b) East to West position
(c) South to North position
(d) West-to-East position
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]
Ans. (a) North to South position
- During the Chalcolithic period, people in Maharashtra buried their dead in a north-to-south orientation.
- In South India, the dead were buried in an east-to-west orientation.
- The Jorwe people (Maharashtra) built rectangular homes.
- They believed in an afterlife, so the dead were buried beneath the floor of their houses.
- Children were put in two urns that were joined together, while adults were laid in a position with their heads pointed north (North-South direction).
- These burial sites were located in places like Daimabad, Inamgaon, Chandauli, and Nevasa.
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34. Which of the following sites has yielded the skeleton of the dog along with the human skeleton in burial?
(a) Brahmagiri
(b) Burzahom
(c) Chirand
(d) Maski
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) Burzahom
- The Burzahom settlement is an ancient site located in the village of the same name in Kashmir Valley.
- People and animal skeletons were discovered here with drill holes in them.
- In the burial pits, the bones of people and animals like dogs and deer were found together.
- The first exploration of the Burzahom site was done by Helmut de Terra and Dr Thomas Paterson in 1935.
- The human skeletons were found in the pits in a seated position.
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35. The evidence of burying the dog with the human body is found in which of the following places?
(a) Burzahom
(b) Koldihwa
(c) Chaupani
(d) Mando
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (a) Burzahom
- In Burzahom, a village located in the Kashmir valley.
- At the site, evidence of trepanning (a hole bored into the skull) was discovered, as well as the bones of humans and animals, such as dogs and antlered deer, all found in the same pits.
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36. The evidence of pit dwelling has been obtained from –
(a) Burzahom
(b) Koldihwa
(c) Brahmagiri
(d) Sanganakallu
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
Ans. (a) Burzahom
- Burzahom in the Kashmir Valley has evidence of pit-dwellings.
- The pits were circular or oval in shape and were dug into the ground.
- The pits were wide at the ground and narrow near the opening.
- The pit-houses were built to allow early humans to withstand the cold.
- Some of the pit houses had clay or stone ovens which were used to cook food.
- The pits were excavated using rock tools and then plastered on the aspects using soil. The pit-houses had steps leading into them.
- Archaeological excavations at Burzahom indicate that there were four phases of cultural significance between 3000 BC to 1000BC.
- Periods I and II represent the Neolithic era.
- Period III the Megalithic era.
- Period IV relates to the early Historical Period.
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37. Consider the following pairs:
| |
(Historical place) |
(Well-known for) |
| 1 |
Burzahom |
Rock-cut shrines |
| 2 |
Chandra-ketugarh |
Terracotta art |
| 3 |
Ganeshwar |
Copper artefacts |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 3 only
(d) 2 and 3
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre.) 2021]
Ans (d) 2 and 3
- Burzahom is a Neolithic site in Kashmir Valley that is known for its pit dwellings and the Neolithic tool industry, not for rock-cut shrines, making pair 1 incorrect.
- The Chandraketugarh site is located in the Ganga Delta in West Bengal and was connected to the Ganga by the Vidyadhari River in early times, making it a trading and possibly political centre.
- It was known for its terracotta craft, including coins, pottery, seals, sealings and figurines made of ivory, wood and bronze, making pair 2 correct.
- The Ganeshwar-Jodhpura culture was in the northeast of Rajasthan, and many copper objects have been found there, making pair 3 correct.
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38. From which rock shelter of Vindhyas, a maximum number of human skeletons have been found?
(a) Morahana Pahar
(b) Ghagharia
(c) Baghahi Khor
(d) Lekhahia
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (d) Lekhahia
- J.N. Pandey’s book ‘Puratatva Vimarsh’ stated that 17 human skeletons were taken from a rock shelter called Lekhahiya in the Vindhya region.
- Some of the remains were in good condition, but most of them were distorted.
- John R. Lucas from Oregon University in the U.S. reported that they found 27 human skeletons at Lekhahiya.
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39. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The stone age people of the Vindhyas migrated to the Ganga Valley in the terminal Pleistocene period.
Reason (R): Due to climatic change, it was a dry phase in this period.
Choose the correct answer from the code given below.
Code :
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct
explanation of (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct
explanation of (A)
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2016]
Ans. (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- People living in the Stone Age in the Vindhyas moved to the Ganga Valley at the end of the Pleistocene period due to changing weather conditions, as the Vindhyan Valley had become dry.
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40. Which of these departments/ministries deals with the Archaeological Survey of India as an accessory office?
(a) Culture
(b) Tourism
(c) Science and Technology
(d) Human Resource and Development
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (a) Culture
- The Archaeological Survey of India is a government organization that protects and studies the cultural heritage of India.
- Archaeological Survey was founded in 1871 with Alexander Cunningham as its first Director-General.
- In 1901, it was centralised and given its current name by Lord Curzon and John Marshall was made the first Director General.
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41. Where is National Human Museum situated?
(a) Guwahati
(b) Bastar
(c) Bhopal
(d) Chennai
[M.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]
Ans. (c) Bhopal
- The Indira Gandhi National Human Museum, formerly known as the National Human Museum, is located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- It is run independently under the Department of Culture.
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