Prehistoric Tamil Nadu - class-VIII

An artefact is an object made, modified, or used by humans, which provides evidence of past human activity. Cognition refers to mental processes, not physical objects.

Pottery from the Iron Age and Sangam period in South India is frequently characterized by the use of black and red slips, often referred to as Black and Red Ware.

Bifaces are stone tools that have been flaked on both sides, creating two faces. While hand axes are a type of biface, the term biface specifically describes the flaking technique.

Acheulian tools have been extensively documented in the Attirampakkam site near Chennai, which is a significant location for Paleolithic studies in Tamil Nadu.

Current scientific consensus places the emergence of anatomically modern humans, Homo sapiens, at approximately 300,000 years ago.

Charles Darwin published 'The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex' in 1871, which further explored his theories of evolution as applied to humans.

Stratigraphy is the branch of geology concerned with the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification), which is essential for dating archaeological finds.

Archaeology is the scientific study of the human past through the recovery and analysis of material culture, such as tools, pottery, and structures.

Indian sub-continent is known for one of the earliest cultivation of Rice along with China. Rice was found in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and date from 7000–6000 BC. Though the earliest widely accepted date for cultivated rice is placed at around 3000–2500 BC with findings in regions belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. Rice was domesticated in China by 6200 BC with the earliest known cultivation from 5700 BC. Therefore, the correct answer is (A)

The domestication of fruit and nut trees, such as olives and grapes, is generally dated to the Chalcolithic period, around 4,000 BCE, in the Near East.

Charles Darwin is the author of 'The Descent of Man', a seminal work in evolutionary biology.

Christian Jürgensen Thomsen, a Danish archaeologist, proposed the Three Age System (Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages) to classify prehistoric artifacts.

Possible evidence indicating the earliest presence of Tamil people in modern-day Tamil Nadu are the megalithic urn burials, dating from around 1500 BCE and onwards, which have been discovered at various locations in Tamil Nadu, notably in Adichanallur in Thoothukudi District.

The people of mullai land are shepherds. Rabbits, deer, cattle, wild fowl live in the forests. Rearing of cattle was the major occupation of the people of Mullai during Sangam age

Sangam literature suggests that trade and exchange activities were often conducted during the summer, as travel and transport were more feasible during the dry season.

Sangam literature mentions the practice of exchange of goods known as noduthal. Allalavanam and Nalangadi were the markets of ancient Tamilnadu. The commodities for daily use were obtained from these markets. People procured fish and rice by exchanging honey, ghee, and tubers.

Umnar only exchanged salt during Sangam Age. In the rural markets, salt merchants known as Umanar usually produced the goods, transported them and sold them directly to the consumers, they traveled with their families in trains of carts.

The Cheras, the Pandyas, and the Cholas together were called Moovendans. The capitals of the Cheras, the Pandyas, and the Cholas were Muchiri, Madurai, and Uraiyur respectively. Muchiri, Thondi, Vakai, Mantai, Kaveripattanam, etc. were the major port cities of the period. Major trade centres in the southern part were located in these three empires.

Pepper was the major commodity that the Romans took from ancient Tamilakam. Foreign trade brought in a large amount of internationally convertible Roman currency.

The Chola dynasty was the most civilized and one of the longest ruling dynasties in the history of southern India. The dynasty originated in the rich Kaveri (Cauvery) River valley. Uraiyur (now Tiruchchirappalli) was its oldest capital.  The Chola empire stretched from the Vaigai River in the south to Tondaimandalam, the capital of which was Kanci (now Kanchipuram), in the north.

Megalithic monuments refer to the monuments made up of large stones. However, not all monuments constructed out of large stones are megalithic. Different types of iron tools have been discovered from megalithic monuments. They include a sword, spear, knife, book, lamp, nail and so on. Hence, this period is known as the Iron age in South Indian History.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

The Cheras were the ruling dynasty of the present-day state of Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu in South India. Their capital was Muziri also known as Vanchi. The Early Cheras are said to have spanned the period between the 4th century BCE to 5th century CE. and the later Cheras were in power between the 8th and 12th century.

The Pandyas ruled regions in southern India which now lie in the state of Tamil Nadu, existing there alongside other dynasties such as the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pallavas, etc. Their capital was Madurai from 3rd century BCE to 1345 CE. The Pandyan kings were Jains in their early ages but later became Shaivaites.

Kurinji was the hilly, forested terrain rich with verdant slopes, flowers, birds, bees and wildlife. It was the home of the nomads, the hunters and lovers of nature. The poems of this land abound with an energy and enthusiasm characteristic of a people who thrive in the wildness of nature. Hunting and collecting of forest resources were the means of livelihood of the people in the hilly Kurinchi during Sangam age.

Megalithic culture in India is most prominently associated with Southern India, characterized by large stone burial monuments like dolmens and urns.

The worship of Murugan is a central and distinctive feature of ancient Tamil religion, as described in Sangam literature and associated with the landscape of the Kurinji region.

a pit-house is frequently called a sunken featured building and occasionally (grub-)hut or grubhouse, after the German name Grubenhaus. They are found in Burzahom in Kashmir valley.

Independent farmers were called Grihpatis.

A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. In prehistoric art, it was often a undressed stone used in the construction of various types of Neolithic, Chalcolithic or Bronze Age monuments, during the period 4500-1000 BCE. Some of the examples of megaliths are Thoppikkallu, Kudakkallu, Sacrophagus, Menhir.

The muthumakkathazhi or nannangadi is a megalithic burial monument in which the corpse is buried in a big urn. The word muthumakkathazhi is derived from muthumakkal (predecessors in local parlance) and thazhi (big urn). Some claim that the pot was named so as it was used to bury the corpses of prominent persons like village chieftains.

Pottery in the Indian subcontinent has an ancient history and is one of the most tangible and iconic elements of Indian art. Evidence of pottery has been found in the early settlements of lahuradewa and later the indus vallery civilization.

today
cultural art that is still practiced extensively in Indian subcontinent.
Until recent times all Indian pottery has been earthen including terracotta.

The morning markets of ancient Tamilakam were known as Nalangadi. The commodities obtained from these markets were of daily use. Also, they were obtained in different Tinais. This exchange was accomplished by the merchant group known as Umanar.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

The evening markets of ancient Tamilakam were known as Allalavanam. The commodities obtained from these markets were of daily use. Also, they were obtained in different Tinais. This exchange was accomplished by the merchant group known as Umanar.

Thus, the correct answer is C.