Telangana Prehistoric Age Notes: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic & Megalithic Period Complete Guide with Quick Review

Prehistoric Age & Historic Age: Complete Telangana History Study Notes

Chronological Overview: The prehistory of Telangana traces human culture from unifacial pebble tools along river beds to organized megalithic settlements marked by iron metallurgy, secondary urn burials, and rock art. This guide covers all key periods from Lower Paleolithic to Megalithic Age with important sites, tools, and burial practices.

Telangana Prehistoric Age

• Prehistoric age means the age without written evidence.
• The period of the last 2300 years, for which written evidence is available, is called the Historic Age.
• The first site related to the prehistoric age (Megalithic age) in Telangana was Valigonda in Nalgonda district. The person who researched it was Robert Bruce Foote.
• The Hyderabad Department of Archaeology was established in 1914.
• The tool used by humans in the Neolithic Age – Copper.
• The tools used by humans in the Rakshasagulla (Megalithic) Age – Iron tools. Therefore, this period is also called the Ayo (Iron) Age. In this age, small kingdoms, script, and symbols of civilization began. Hence, this age is called the "Prehistoric Age," "Historic Age," "Proto-Historic Age," or "Purā-Chāritraka Age."
• The prehistoric age is also named based on the tools they used.

Examples: Tool-based Classification

Age / Period	Tools Used
Lower Paleolithic Age	Quartzite stone tools
Middle Paleolithic Age	Flake stone tools
Upper Paleolithic Age	Scraper tools
Mesolithic Age	Small stone tools
Neolithic Age	Polished tools
Megalithic Age	Iron metal tools

Lower Paleolithic Age (3 to 1.30 lakh years ago)

Early Pleistocene – Middle Pleistocene

Important sites belonging to this age

• Both and Pochchera Waterfall in Adilabad district
• Godavarikhani and Ramagundam in Karimnagar district
• Palvancha in Khammam district
• Rayavaram, Eleswaram, and Nagarjuna Konda in Nalgonda district
• Chandragupta Town and Erla Dinne in Mahabubnagar district

• Large-sized hand axes, choppers, circular stones were used by the people of this age for hunting and food gathering.
• The weapons of this age resemble the weapons of the "Acheulian" region in Africa.

Middle Paleolithic Age (1 or 0.5 lakh years ago)

Flake Industry Tradition

• The first site where cattle skeleton remains were found – during excavations conducted near Yapalapadu in Mahabubnagar district. From this, it is understood that the humans of this age had a relationship with cattle.
• Tools used by the humans of this age – small-sized hand axes, cleavers, scrapers.

Upper Paleolithic Age (20,000 – 10,000 BCE)

Late Pleistocene – Terminal Boundary

• The people who lived in this age used blade tools, side-edged blade tools, and in some places tools made of bone.
• They learned to paint colored pictures in rock caves.
• This indicates the beginning phase of the "Holocene."

Mesolithic Age (8500 – 3000 BCE)

Early Holocene Epoch

• Belongs to the "Early Holocene" age in terms of geological climate.
• In this age, very small (microlithic) stone weapons were used.
• This age is also called the "Microlithic Age."
• In the caves belonging to this age, more than 150 figures are visible in the colored paintings.
• Among these, mainly deer, ear-cat, hyena, fox, dog, tortoise, geometric patterns are found in limestone and granite rock hill caves.
• The most important among these is the deer painting.

Neolithic Age (3000 – 1500 BCE)

Polished Stone & Agro-Pastoral Revolution

• In the later phase of this age, they learned to make tools with copper and bronze. With their help, they learned to dig the earth, plant and grow plants, and cultivate crops.
• Due to this, they established permanent settlements. Thereby, family, society, and village came into existence.
• To store the harvested crops, vessels became necessary. This led to the making of pots and large storage jars. Initially, pots were made by hand; later, the potter's wheel was invented. The concept of personal property arose and led to the formation of rich and poor society.
• They domesticated animals. Crop production led to the origin of trade.
• In Karimnagar district, at the Thogarrai settlement, a center for making tools was found near protruding granite hills.
• Clay pots mostly had red color decoration.
• The economic system of this age mainly depended on animal husbandry and agriculture.
• The site where ash mounds and some wild animal or cattle pens were found – Utnur in Mahabubnagar district.
• Humped bull terracotta figurines and palm-leaf paintings came to light in Budhagadi in Karimnagar district, Pandavula Gutta in Warangal district, Rachakonda in Nalgonda district, Nallamudi in Khammam district, Duppadu Gutta and Dongala Gattu in Mahabubnagar district, and other areas.
• During this period, people mainly cultivated jowar, pulses, and paddy. Crops were mainly cultivated through rain-fed farming.
• In the Neolithic Age, the heads of the deceased were placed facing north and buried.
• At Nagarjunakonda, evidence was found of two infants buried in a pot in the settlement area.

Megalithic Age (1500 BCE – 300 CE)

Ayo Yugam (Iron Age) – Proto-History

• Because iron objects were used in this age, it is called the Ayo (Iron) Age.
• The skeletal remains of the deceased were placed in a coffin or a stone pit and buried, and large stones were arranged in a circle around that pit. Hence, this age is called the Megalithic Age. Local people also call these Pandavula Gullu (Pandava pits) or Veerulapadu.
• The beloved pet animals (dog) of the deceased person were also buried along with him.
• The megalithic burial in the campus of the University of Hyderabad is the first of its kind in the country.
• Megalithic burials can be classified into 4 types based on their construction. They are:

Types of Megalithic Burials

Burial Type	Description
1) Pit Burials	A pit is dug, and the skeleton is buried either in a clay coffin or in a room made of rectangular stone slabs, and large stones are arranged in a circle around it – this is called a pit burial.
2) Cist Burials	A rectangular stone chamber is not completely buried, but is buried in such a way that about one arm's length of it is visible above the ground surface, and a stone slab is placed on top of it – this is called a cist burial.
3) Chamber Burials	If the entire stone burial is above the ground surface, it is called a chamber burial.
4) Cave Burials	Circular caves are carved into hills, and the dead are placed in them and covered – these are called cave burials.

• In the pit burial at Uppalapadu in Mahabubnagar district, a boat-shaped coffin was found. On the cist burial at Chinnamarur, mat marks were visible.
• In the burials at Veerapuram in Mahabubnagar district, many varieties of 'food grains' were found. Among them, the important ones are paddy, barley, and minor millets like korralu (finger millet).
• Ragi (finger millet) was found in the burial at the University of Hyderabad.
• In the line drawings carved on cave rocks, mainly a trident, a trident piercing through a wheel, and a spear are visible.

Additional Useful Content

Note on Robert Bruce Foote

• Robert Bruce Foote (1834–1912) was a British geologist and archaeologist who is often called the "Father of Indian Prehistory."
• He discovered the first Paleolithic tool in India at Pallavaram (near Chennai) in 1863.
• His research in Telangana, particularly at Valigonda, laid the foundation for prehistoric studies in the region.

Note on Geological Ages

• Pleistocene: The geological epoch spanning from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, characterized by repeated glaciations. The Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic ages fall within this epoch.
• Holocene: The current geological epoch, beginning approximately 11,700 years ago after the last major ice age. The Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Megalithic ages fall within this epoch.

Note on Acheulian Tools

• Acheulian tools are named after Saint-Acheul in France, where they were first identified.
• They are characterized by large, bifacially worked stone tools, particularly hand axes and cleavers.
• These tools are associated with Homo erectus and early Homo sapiens.

Note on Microliths

• Microliths are small stone tools, typically less than 3 cm in length.
• They were often used as components of composite tools, such as arrowheads, harpoons, or sickles.
• Their presence indicates a more advanced hunting and gathering strategy.

Note on Megaliths

• Megaliths (from Greek: "mega" = large, "lithos" = stone) are large stone structures used for burial or commemorative purposes.
• They are found across various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• In India, megalithic cultures are associated with the Iron Age and are found predominantly in South India.

Note on Archaeological Sites in Telangana

• Nagarjunakonda: An important Buddhist site and ancient city, located in Nalgonda district (now submerged under Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir).
• Ramagundam: Known for its prehistoric sites and coal deposits.
• Valigonda: The first prehistoric site identified in Telangana.
• Utnur: Known for ash mounds, indicating early pastoral settlements.
• Pandavula Gutta: Known for rock paintings and megalithic burials.

Note on Pottery

• Pottery is one of the earliest inventions of humans and is a key indicator of cultural development.
• Red ware, black ware, and painted pottery are common in prehistoric and protohistoric sites.
• The potter's wheel was a significant technological advancement, allowing for mass production of pottery.

Note on Burial Practices

• Burial practices reflect the beliefs of ancient people about death and the afterlife.
• The orientation of the body, the inclusion of grave goods (pottery, tools, ornaments, food), and the construction of the burial structure provide insights into social organization, religion, and trade.
• Megalithic burials often contain iron objects, pottery, and sometimes gold or bronze ornaments, indicating social stratification.

⚡ Quick Review: Telangana Prehistory at a Glance

• Prehistoric Age: No written evidence. Historic Age: Last 2300 years with written records.
• First prehistoric site in Telangana: Valigonda (Nalgonda district) – researched by Robert Bruce Foote.
• Hyderabad Archaeological Department: Established in 1914.
• Neolithic tool: Copper. Megalithic tool: Iron → hence called Ayo (Iron) Age.
• Lower Paleolithic: 3–1.3 lakh years ago; large hand axes, choppers; sites: Both, Pochchera, Godavarikhani, Ramagundam, Palvancha, Rayavaram, Eleswaram, Nagarjunakonda, Chandragupta Town, Erla Dinne. Tools resemble Acheulian (Africa).
• Middle Paleolithic: 1–0.5 lakh years ago; first cattle skeleton at Yapalapadu (Mahabubnagar); small hand axes, cleavers, scrapers.
• Upper Paleolithic: 20,000–10,000 BCE; blade tools, bone tools; rock cave paintings; beginning of Holocene.
• Mesolithic: 8500–3000 BCE; Early Holocene; microliths (small stone tools); also called Microlithic Age; 150+ figures in caves; deer, ear-cat, hyena, fox, dog, tortoise; deer painting most important.
• Neolithic: 3000–1500 BCE; copper & bronze tools; agriculture, permanent settlements, family/society/village; pottery (hand → wheel); rich-poor divide; animal domestication; trade origin; Thogarrai (Karimnagar) tool-making centre; red clay pots; ash mounds at Utnur; humped bull figurines & palm-leaf paintings at Budhagadi, Pandavula Gutta, Rachakonda, Nallamudi, Duppadu Gutta, Dongala Gattu; crops: jowar, pulses, paddy (rain-fed); burial: head facing north; two infants buried in pot at Nagarjunakonda.
• Megalithic (Rakshasagulla) Age: 1500 BCE–300 CE; iron tools → Ayo Age; skeletal remains in coffin/stone pit with large stones in circle; locally called Pandavula Gullu / Veerulapadu; pet dog buried with owner; first megalithic burial in India at University of Hyderabad campus.
• 4 Burial Types: Pit Burials, Cist Burials, Chamber Burials, Cave Burials.
• Key Finds: Uppalapadu pit burial → boat-shaped coffin; Chinnamarur cist → mat marks; Veerapuram burials → paddy, barley, korralu; Univ. of Hyderabad burial → ragi; cave rock drawings → trident, trident piercing wheel, spear.
• Robert Bruce Foote: Father of Indian Prehistory; discovered first Paleolithic tool at Pallavaram (1863).
• Geological Ages: Pleistocene → Paleolithic; Holocene → Mesolithic, Neolithic, Megalithic.
• Telangana: Formed 2 June 2014; bounded by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka; Godavari & Krishna rivers.