The period when we find environmental changes, beginning about 12,000 years ago till about 10,000 years ago, is called:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Mesolithic.
- The Mesolithic period, also called the Middle Stone Age, spanned roughly from 12,000 to 10,000 years ago, serving as a bridge between the Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) and the Neolithic (New Stone Age).
- This period coincided with the end of the last Ice Age, bringing about a warmer climate and environmental changes that influenced human lifestyles.
- A defining feature of the Mesolithic was the use of microliths—small, sharp, and finely crafted stone tools often mounted on wood or bone to create spears, arrows, and sickles.
- People lived a semi-nomadic life, relying on hunting, fishing, and gathering, while also experimenting with early agriculture and domestication of animals.
- Thus, the Mesolithic period reflects a crucial stage of adaptation and transition, paving the way for settled farming communities of the Neolithic Age.
Other Options:
- Palaeolithic Period (Old Stone Age): ~2.5 million years ago to 10,000 BCE.
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Microliths: Microliths were small, geometrically shaped stone tools used during the Mesolithic period.
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Neolithic Period: The Neolithic period (New Stone Age) followed the Mesolithic, beginning around 10,000 BCE.