On The Trail of the Earliest People 

Q1. Fill in the blanks.

                       i.        Grasslands developed around 12000 years ago.

                      ii.        The earliest people painted on walls of the cave.

                     iii.        Traces of ash have been found in the Kurnool caves.

                     iv.        Perennial lakes and rivers have water throughout the year.

                       v.        Palaeolithic period covers 99% of human history.

Q2. True/False

                        i.        In Hunsgi, tools were made of limestone. True

                       ii.        Grasslands developed in many areas around 1,000 years ago. False

                     iii.        Tools in Hunsgi were made of limestones. True

                     iv.        Early man who lived on the banks of the rivers went in search of water during the rainy season. False

Q3. Name the shelter of early men.

Ans. caves

Q4. Write examples of habitation sites.

Ans. These include caves and rock shelters.

Q5. Name the earliest period of history given by archaeologists.

Ans. Palaeolithic period

Q6. What kind of colours was used in the cave paintings?

Ans. Colours were made from minerals like ochre or iron ore, and charcoal.

Q7. How was wood used in the past?

Ans. Wood was used as firewood. It was also used to make huts and tools.

Q8. Write any two grain bearing grasses.

Ans. Grain bearing grasses includes wheat, barley and rice etc.

Q9. List the foods hunter-gatherers ate.

Ans. Foods hunter-gatherers ate fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, leaves, stalks and eggs.

Q10. What is Hunsgi famous for?

Ans. Hunsgi is famous because number of early Palaeolithic sites was found here.

Q11. What does the rock paintings of Madhya Pradesh and Southern Uttar Pradesh depicts?

Ans. Rock paintings of Madhya Pradesh and Southern Uttar Pradesh depict animals and hunting scenes.

Q12. What are factory sites?

Ans. Places where stone was found and where people made tools are known as factory sites.

Q13. What are microliths?

Ans. Stone tools found during this period are generally tiny, and are called microliths.

Q14. What tools would you use today for cutting fruit? What would they be made of?

Ans. Today for cutting fruit we would use knives, which are usually made of iron or steel.

Q15. How can we say that the people of Kurnool caves were familiar with fire?

Ans. Traces of ash have been found in Kurnool shows that people were familiar with fire.

Q16. Why people chose to live in natural caves?

Ans. People chose these natural caves because they provided shelter from the rain, heat and wind.

Q17. What did hunter-gatherers do to sustain themselves?

Ans. They hunted wild animals, caught fish and birds, gathered fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, leaves, stalks and eggs.

Q18. What qualities people need to have while hunting animals or catching fish?

Ans. To hunt animals or catch fish and birds, people need to be alert, quick, and have lots of presence of mind.

Q19. Write about the paintings found from Madhya Pradesh and southern Uttar Pradesh?

Ans. Paintings found from Madhya Pradesh and southern Uttar Pradesh show wild animals, drawn with great accuracy and skill.

Q20. Where are natural caves and rock shelter found?

Ans. Natural caves and rock shelters are found in the Vindhyas and the Deccan plateau. These rock shelters are close to the Narmada valley.