The time period between 12,000 and 2,000 B.C. in India is marked as Late Stone Age, Mesolithic, or Microlithic period.
The tools of Mesolithic Culture were characterized by −
Parallel-sided blades taken out from prepared cores of such fine material as chert, chalcedony, crystal, jasper, carnelian, agate, etc.;
Stone size (of tools) decreased;
Tools were hafted in wood and bones;
The size and shapes of the tools used as composite tools; and
Some new tool-types namely lunates, trapezes, triangles, arrow-heads, etc. were developed.
The archaeological stratigraphy reflects the continuity from the Upper Palaeolithic age to the Microlithic age and it proved that the Microlithic industry is rooted in the preceding phase of the Upper Palaeolithic industry.
The C-14 dates available for the Mesolithic culture illustrate that this industry began around 12,000 B.C. and survived up to 2,000 B.C.
The various sites of the Mesolithic period were located in −
Langhnaj in Gujarat,
Bagor in Rajasthan,
Sarai Nahar Rai, Chopani Mando, Mahdaha, and Damdama in Uttar Pradesh,
Bhimbetka and Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh,
The inhabitant community of the sites in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh were essentially hunters, food-gatherers, and fishermen. However, some of the agricultural practice also evidenced at these sites.
The sites of Bagor in Rajasthan and Langhnaj in Gujarat elucidate that these Mesolithic communities were in touch with the people of the Harappan and other Chalcolithic cultures and traded various items with each other.
About 6,000 B.C., the Mesolithic people may have partly adopted the settled way of life and started domestication of animals including sheep and goat.
The rock-shelters in India were mainly occupied by the Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic people.
The rock-paintings depict a variety of subjects related to animals and the scenes including both people and animals. Besides animals and birds, fishes have also been depicted in the rock paintings.
Following were the important rock-painting sites −
Murhana Pahar in Uttar Pradesh
Bhimbetka, Adamgarh, Lakha Juar in Madhya Pradesh
Kupagallu in Karnataka.
The rock paintings portrayed human-beings involved in various activities, such as dancing, running and hunting, playing games, and engaged in battle. The colors used in these rock paintings are deep red, green, white and yellow.
The rhinoceros hunting scene from the Adamgarh rock-shelters reveals that large number of people joins together for the hunt of bigger animals.