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SANKALP 2024
Ancient History - Prelims Questions DPP - 1

1. Consider the following statement with regard 4. With reference to the evolution of Palaeolithic
to the Prehistoric period: tools in Ancient India, which of the statements
1. It is the period of our ancient past for given below is/are correct?
which we do not have written records. 1. Lower Palaeolithic tools were also called
2. It is also referred to as the Stone Age. the chopping tools, such as hand axes,
3. The earliest man living during this period cleavers and choppers, etc.
made tools and implements of stone to 2. Middle Palaeolithic tools primarily
hunt and gather food in order to satisfy consisted of burins and scrapers.
his hunger. 3. Upper Palaeolithic tools are mostly flake
Which of the above statements is/are correct? tools or chipped pieces.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only Select the correct answer using the codes
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) None of the above given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 only
2. The earliest human ancestor species to (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 2 only
migrate out of Africa was:
(a) Homo Habilis (b) Homo Sapiens 5. Which one of the following is a Palaeolithic
(c) Neanderthals (d) Homo Erectus site in India?
(a) Burzahom (b) Bhimbetka
3. With reference to the Prehistoric period, (c) Inamgaon (d) Hampi
consider the following statement:
1. On the basis of the different types of 6. Consider the following statements with
tools and techniques, the stages of human respect to the subsistence pattern of
development in the prehistoric period are Palaeolithic Age people:
divided into the Palaeolithic and 1. The Palaeolithic people led a nomadic
Mesolithic Ages only. life.
2. Palaeolithic was further divided into 2. As a means of livelihood, the Palaeolithic
Lower Palaeolithic, Middle Palaeolithic people engaged in hunting and food
and Upper Palaeolithic Culture. gathering.
Select the correct answer using the codes Which of the above statements is/are correct?
given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) 1 and 2 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2
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7. At which place in India Ostrich egg shells 2. The Acheulian tradition was spread
were found across the length and breadth of the
(a) Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh Indian subcontinent.
(b) Patne in Maharashtra 3. Attirampakkam or Athirampakkam near
(c) Garo Hills in Meghalaya Chennai is a famous site of the Acheulian
tradition.
(d) Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only
8. At which of the following sites, the first
Palaeolithic tools were found? (c) 2 and 3 only (d) None of the above
(a) Pallavaram near Chennai
(b) Belan Valley in Uttar Pradesh 10. Consider the following pairs with respect to
the sites of Palaeolithic Phases:
(c) Sohan Valley
Sites Palaeolithic Phases
(d) Mewar in Rajasthan
1. Patne Lower Palaeolithic
2. Narmada Valley Middle Palaeolithic
9. Consider the following statement with respect
to the Acheulian Industry: Which of the pair/pairs given above is/are
NOT correctly matched?
1. The early Acheulian tools include
polyhedrons, spheroids, hand axes, (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
cleavers and flake tools. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer
6. (c)
1. (c)
7. (b)
2. (d)
8. (a)
3. (b)
9. (b)
4. (b)
10. (a)
5. (b)

Hints and Solutions
1. (c)
Option (c) is correct:
Statement 1: The period before the
development of the script is called the pre-
historic times or period. Hence, statement 1 is
correct.
Statement 2: Since the earliest tools used by
humans were made of stones, this phase of
human development is known as the Stone Age.
Hence, statement 2 is also correct.
Statement 3: The earliest man living during
this period made tools and implements of stone
to hunt and gather food in order to satisfy his
hunger. Hence, this statement 3 is also correct.
Conclusion: Therefore, the correct answer is
option c) 1, 2 and 3.
Prehistoric Period
• The period before the development of
script is called the pre-historic times or
period.
• Our knowledge of the cultures, which
developed in this period, is based only on
the materials found in the archaeological
excavations.
• The earliest man living during this period
made tools and implements of stone to
hunt and gather food, hence, it is also
referred to as the Stone Age.
• On the basis of the different types of tools
and techniques the stages of human
development in prehistoric periods such as:
o Palaeolithic or Old Stone Age
▪ Lower Palaeolithic culture
▪ Middle Palaeolithic culture
▪ Upper Palaeolithic culture
o Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age,
o Neolithic or New Stone Age.
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2. (d)
Option (d) is correct: This question is asked
directly from TN History Book Page no. 1-2.
The correct answer is option d) Homo
Erectus.
Human Ancestors
Homo Erectus:
• Human ancestors are likely to have first
evolved in Africa and later migrated to
different parts of the world.
• Homo erectus lived about 1.89 million-
110,000 years ago, in Northern, Eastern, and
Southern Africa and Western and East Asia.
• ‘Turkana Boy” is the most complete fossil
belonging to this species.
• The earliest human ancestor species to
migrate out of Africa was the Homo erectus.
• During the Lower Palaeolithic cultural
phase, the human ancestor species of Homo
erectus is believed to have lived in India.
Homo Habilis:
• Homo habilis lived about 2.4-1.4 million
years ago in Eastern and Southern Africa.
• This species still retained some of the ape-
like features.
Homo Sapiens:
• The species to which all existing humans
belong evolved in Africa nearly 300,000
years ago as a result of some dramatic
climate change events.
Neanderthals:
• They are believed to be the closest extinct
human relatives and lived about 400,000-
40,000 years ago in Europe and
southwestern to central Asia.

3. (b)
Option (b) is correct:
Statement 1: On the basis of the different type
of tools and techniques the stages of human
development in the prehistoric period are
divided into Palaeolithic Age, Mesolithic Age
and Neolithic Age. Hence, statement 1 is
wrong.
Statement 2: Palaeolithic was further divided
into Lower Palaeolithic, Middle Palaeolithic
and Upper Palaeolithic Culture. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
NOTE 1: Be careful while solving this type of
question, here in statement 1 observe the
extreme keywords such as ‘only’, do remember
that not always but most of the time these
extreme keywords appear to be the wrong
statement.
NOTE 2: For a Detailed Explanation please
refer to the solution to Question no 1.
4. (b)
Option (b) is correct:
Statement 1: Lower Palaeolithic tools were
also called the chopping tools, such as hand
axes, cleavers and choppers, etc. These tools
were formed by chipping the sides of the
stones, and they were heavy and rough.
Gradually, the tools became sharper and lighter.
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Statements 2 and 3: These two statements are
interchanged. Middle Palaeolithic tools are
mostly flake tools of chipped pieces. While the
Upper Palaeolithic tools primarily consisted of
burins and scrapers. Hence, both statements 2
and 3 are wrong.
Conclusion: Therefore, the correct answer is
option b) 1 only.
Palaeolithic Period
• The earliest age in history is called Old
Stone Age or Palaeolithic.
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• It is an early stage in human technological
evolution that is defined by the production
and usage of primitive stone tools.
• This period is divided into three stages in
accordance with the type of stone tools used
by the people and also according to the
nature of climatic change:
1. Lower Palaeolithic culture: between
600,000 and 150,000 BC.
2. Middle Palaeolithic culture:
between150,000 and 35,000 BC
3. Upper Palaeolithic culture: 35,000 and
10,000 BC.
Palaeolithic Tools:
• Lower Palaeolithic tools: Hand axes,
cleavers and choppers called chopping tools.
These were formed by chipping the sides of
the stones, and they were heavy and rough.
Gradually, the tools became sharper and
lighter.
• Middle Palaeolithic tools: The flake tools
or chipped pieces were the chief tools during
this phase.
• Upper Palaeolithic tools: The tools in this
phase primarily consisted of burins and
scrapers.
5. (b)
Option (b) is correct:
The Geographical Distribution of the
Palaeolithic Sites:
The geographic distribution of the Palaeolithic
sites implies that this culture was spread across
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the whole Indian subcontinent.

• In the north: Kashmir Valley and the
Sohan Valley in Rawalpindi (now in
Pakistan) have yielded Palaeolithic tools.
• In Rajasthan: Palaeolithic tools were found
at the sites along the river Luni.
• In Western India:
▪ The Palaeolithic tools were also
discovered at the sites of the rivers
Sabarmati, and Mahi and their
tributaries in Gujarat.
▪ In Maharashtra: the most
important sites are Nevasa on a
tributary of the Godavari and Patne
in the Tapti River system.
• In Madhya Pradesh: the rock shelters at
Bhimbetka (near Bhopal) and Adamgarh in
the district of Hoshangabad have yielded
tools from the Palaeolithic to the Mesolithic
period. 6. (c)
• In Uttar Pradesh: the Belan Valley (the
Option (c) is correct:
region broadly from Allahabad to Varanasi) Statement 1: the Palaeolithic people led a
is the most prominent site. It shows the nomadic life and migrated to places where plant
human occupation of the area continuously and animal resources along with water were
from the Palaeolithic period. easily available. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• In Eastern India: Prehistoric artefacts have Statement 2: As a means of livelihood, the
been found in Assam and its surrounding Palaeolithic people engaged in hunting and
regions, notably Meghalaya (Garo Hills). food gathering. Hence, statement 2 is also
Along with these locations, sites in Bengal, correct.
Orissa, and Bihar have also yielded Conclusion: Therefore, the correct answer is
palaeolithic tools. option c) Both 1 and 2.
In Peninsular India: In Andhra Pradesh and Subsistence Pattern of Palaeolithic Age:
• As a means of livelihood, the Palaeolithic
Karnataka, palaeolithic tools have been
discovered. In Tamil Nadu, an important site is people engaged in hunting and food
Attirampakkam in the Chingleput region. gathering.
• They made simple stone tools for hunting,
cutting, digging and other purposes.
• They led a nomadic life and migrated to
places where plant and animal resources
along with water were easily available.

7. (b)
Option (b) is correct:
Ostriches were found in India during the
Palaeolithic period. Large quantities of ostrich
egg shells were found at Patne in Maharashtra.
8. (a)
Option (a) is correct:
Discovery of Palaeolithic tools
• The first Palaeolithic tools were identified at
the site of Pallavaram near Chennai by
Robert Bruce Foote in 1863.
• He found many prehistoric sites when he
extensively surveyed different parts of South
India.
• Since then, numerous Palaeolithic sites have
been identified and excavated all over India.
NOTE: For a Detailed Explanation of
Palaeolithic Tools please refer to the solution of
Question no 4.
9. (b)
Option (b) is correct:
Statement 1: The early Acheulian tools include
polyhedrons, spheroids, hand axes, cleavers and
flake tools. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Statement 2: Due to heavy rainfall, the
Acheulian tradition is absent in the Western
Ghats, coastal areas and north-eastern India.
Hence, statement 2 is wrong.
Statement 3: One famous site of the Acheulian
tradition in South India is Attirampakkam or
Athirampakkam near Chennai. Hence,
statement 3 is correct.
Conclusion: Therefore, the correct answer is
option b) 1 and 3 only.
Industries of Palaeolithic cultures:
Based on research and studies two independent
cultural traditions of hand axe (Acheulian) and
pebble-flake (Sohanian) industries were
confirmed in India.
Acheulian industry (hand axe):
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• The industries of Palaeolithic cultures are
divided into the Early, Middle and Late
Acheulian Industries. The early Acheulian
tools include polyhedrons, spheroids, hand
axes, cleavers and flake tools.
• Due to heavy rainfall, the Acheulian
tradition is absent in the Western Ghats,
coastal areas and north-eastern India.
• Acheulian sites are found more in Central
India and in the south-eastern part of India.
• One famous site of the Acheulian tradition
in South India is Attirampakkam or
Athirampakkam near Chennai.
Sohanian (pebble-flake):
• The Sohan industry is considered to have
used only chopper and chopping tools.
• The Sohan industry gets its name from the
Sohan river valley of Pakistan.
• These two cultural traditions are not
considered distinct any longer.
• Recent studies argue that there was no
independent Sohan tradition as Acheulian
tools are found in the Sohan industry as
well.
10. (a)
Option (a) is correct:
Pair 1: Patne in Maharashtra is an example of
an Upper Palaeolithic site. Hence, Pair 1 is not
correctly matched.
Pair 2: Narmada Valley is a good example of a
Middle Palaeolithic site. Hence, Pair 2 is also
correctly matched.
Conclusion: In this particular question we need
to identify the incorrectly matched pair, hence,
the correct answer is option a) 1 only
Distribution:
Lower Palaeolithic Sites:
• Lower Palaeolithic tools are found in most
parts of India, except in a few regions of the
Ganges valley, southern Tamil Nadu and in
the hilly areas of the Western Ghats.
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• Athirampakkam, Pallavaram and Gudiyam Upper Palaeolithic Sites:

near Chennai, Hunsgi valley and Isampur in
Karnataka, and Bhimbetka in Madhya
Pradesh are some important Palaeolithic
sites where the Acheulian tools are found.
Middle Palaeolithic Sites:
• The Middle Palaeolithic sites are found in
Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, Yamuna and
other river valleys.
• In India: Meralbhavi in Karnataka, Kurnool
caves and Godavarikhani in Telangana,
Baghor I and Baghor III of Son Valley in
Madhya Pradesh and Patne in Maharashtra,
etc.
• In Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka has evidence of
microliths and hominin fossils. Batadomba-
Lena and Fa Hien Cave in Sri Lanka.

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