Pottery was first traceable to which period of ancient Indian history?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 3 i.e. Neolithic.
Pottery was first traceable to the Neolithic period in ancient Indian history. The Neolithic Age (New Stone Age) marks the transition from hunting–gathering to settled agriculture, which led to the need for storage vessels, giving rise to handmade pottery. These early pots were often unpainted and used for cooking, storing grains, and water. Over time, wheel-made and decorated pottery developed. Pottery from Neolithic sites like Mehrgarh and Burzahom provides evidence of this early craft. Thus, pottery is an important archaeological marker of permanent settlements and cultural advancement during the Neolithic age.
Other Options:
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Chalcolithic – Pottery existed before this period; this age saw more advanced painted pottery.
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Palaeolithic – People were nomadic hunters, and pottery was absent.
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Mesolithic – Transitional phase; microliths used.