Syllabus for PGDA

INTRODUCTION

1. Prehistory: definition, scope, terminology and periodisation

2. Quaternary Period: position of prehistory in geological chronology, climatic conditions

3. Prehistoric sites: type and nature of sites, landscape configuration, primary and secondary sites

4. Stone tool technology, typology, material and study of stone artefacts

WORLD PERSPECTIVE

1. Hominid fossils and the question of human evolution: Human evolution tree, Australopithicus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Neanderthal, Java man, Peking man and other major hominidae fossil evidences. India ’s place in the current scheme of human evolution – Narmada skull and other discoveries

2. Prehistory of Africa

(a) Prehistory of South Africa : Palaeoenvironment and Stone Age cultures with special reference to Olduvai Gorge

(b) Prehistory of East Africa : Palaeo-environment and Stone Age cultural succession

(c) Late Stone Age cultures and Rock art

3. Prehistory of Europe

(a) Lower Palaeolithic cultures of Europe : Palaeo-environment, important sites with cultural remains

(b) Middle Palaeolithic cultures of Europe

(c) Upper Palaeolithic culture and art of Europe

(d) European Mesolithic cultures

4. Mousterian culture of Central Asia

SOUTH ASIAN PERSPECTIVE

1. A historiographical perspective – from Robert Bruce Foote till the present

2. Palaeo-environment conditions with special reference to Potwar plateau and Kashmir , Rajasthan, Son valley, Teri sites, etc

(a) Survey of Lower Palaeolithic cultures, distribution, artefacts, technology, raw material, economy, contextual occurrence of tools, chronology, types of sites

(b) Important sites and regions: Potwar plateau (de Terra & T.T. Paterson’s work, current understanding), Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi & Haryana, Central India with special reference to Bhimbetka & Adamgarh, south India with reference to Attirampakkam, Renigunta & Hunsgi – Baichbal valley, Chota Nagpur plateau, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nepal, etc

3. 3. (a) Survey of Middle Palaeolithic cultures, distribution, artefacts, technology, raw material, economy, contextual occurrence of tools, chronology, types of sites

4. (a) Survey of Upper Palaeolithic cultures, distribution, artefacts, technology, raw material, economy, contextual occurrence of tools, chronology, types of sites, epi-palaeolithic

(b) Important sites: Patne, Kurnool caves, evidence from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh , etc Important sites: Bagor and Tilwara, Langhnaj, Birbhanpur, Teri sites, Adamgarh, Bhimbetka, Sarai Nahar Rai, Mahadaha, Damdama

5. (a) Survey of Mesolithic cultures in India, distribution, artefacts, technology, raw material, economy, question of microliths, pottery, etc in association with animal domestication

(b) Important sites: Bagor and Tilwara, Langhnaj, Birbhanpur, Teri sites, Adamgarh, Bhimbetka, Sarai Nahar Rai, Mahadaha, Damdama

6. Rock Art

(a) Recording system, interpretation of rock art, dating of rock art

(b) Survey of rock art in India