MATERIALISTIC LIFE OF THE AGRARIAN COMMUNITIES OF THE NEOLITHIC PEOPLE OF NORTHERN INDIA

Abstract

This research paper attempts to show that the Neolithic phase in Indian subcontinent did not develop everywhere at the same time and nor ended simultaneously. The Neolithic cultures in India have different geographical regions and their own distinctive. In addition, the division of these Neolithic regions is tentative and subject to revision. B.K. Thapar, has divided Neolithic cultures of Indian subcontinent into six geographical regions, including, (i) Northern, covering Kashmir; (ii) North Western, covering, Baluchistan, Swat and the contiguous areas of upper Sind valley in west Pakistan; (iii) Central eastern, covering Chotta-Nagpur plateau with its pen plains in various districts of U.P., Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal; (iv) North-eastern, covering Assam, Chittagong and the sub-Himalayan regions including Darjeeling; (v) North Bihar, covering, district saran; The Neolithic period in North India (c. 7000–2000 B.C.E) represents a significant shift in human history marked by the transition from nomadic foraging to settled agricultural life. This study explores the materialistic aspects of Neolithic agrarian communities through archaeological evidence from key sites such as Mehrgarh, Burzahom, and Chirand etc. These sites reveal the adoption of domesticated crops (wheat, barley) and animals (sheep, goats, cattle), along with the construction of pit dwellings, storage facilities, and community hearths). Tools were made of polished stone, bone, and microliths reflect technological advancement closely to agrarian needs. The emergence of pottery handmade and occasionally wheel-made served both utilitarian and symbolic purposes. Terracotta figurines, beads, and burial goods found at these sites also indicate early forms of socio-economic stratification and spiritual belief systems. This material culture is not just subsistence but also the evolution of social organization and identity formation. Drawing on archaeological interpretations and comparative analysis, the study argues that materialism was a cornerstone of Neolithic life, facilitating not only survival but also cultural expression and cohesion in early village societies of North India.