Prehistory of Kangleipak

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
(Redirected from Prehistory of Manipur)
Information red.svg
Scan the QR code to donate via UPI
Dear reader, We need your support to keep the flame of knowledge burning bright! Our hosting server bill is due on June 1st, and without your help, Bharatpedia faces the risk of shutdown. We've come a long way together in exploring and celebrating our rich heritage. Now, let's unite to ensure Bharatpedia continues to be a beacon of knowledge for generations to come. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Together, let's preserve and share the essence of Bharat.

Thank you for being part of the Bharatpedia family!
Please scan the QR code on the right click here to donate.

0%

   

transparency: ₹0 raised out of ₹100,000 (0 supporter)


This article is about the prehistory. For history, see History of Manipur.

The prehistory or the pre-literary history of Kangleipak (present day Manipur) is the period of human history between the first use of stone tools by early men and the time just preceding Ancient Kangleipak (Antique Manipur).[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Canto tallado talando un arbol.png

Comparing with other regions of the world, the development process of the archaeological work in Manipur is of recent times. The pioneering work in archeology was initiated by O. Kumar Singh. Before his presence, there was little information on the existence of the stone culture of Manipur.[7][8][9][10] O. Kumar Singh is of the view that "Pre-Historic people used to settle in the hills during the Paleolithic and Mesolithic (Hoabinhian) culture while Neolithic people lived in both hills and valley. They came down to the valley at least by about 2000 BC."[11][12] On the basis of the characters of the tool industry, the prehistory of Manipur is broadly classified into three periods.

Paleolithic period[edit]

Further information: Paleolithic

Paleolithic period is the most primitive stone culture era. The Paleolithic period varies from place to place. In Manipur's neighbouring country Burma (Myanmar), the lower Paleolithic culture started from 750000 to 275000 BP. The Homo erectus (early Anyathian culture) began to settle on the banks of the Ayeyawaddy river in Burma in 750000 BCE. However, in case of Manipur, Paleolithic period started from 20,000 to 10,000 BCE.[13]

The stone culture of Paleolithic period were discovered from the five archeological sites, Songbu, Khangkhui, Machi, Nongpok Keithel Manbi and Singtom.

  • Songbu cave - Discovered in 1983, the rock type was found to be of fine quartzite sandstone. Stone tools discovered here are of two types, core tools and flake tools. The quantity of the flake tools (77.7℅) is much higher than those of core tools (22.2℅). The period of the existence of the stone culture at Songbu cave is fixed at 20,000 BP, belonging to the middle Paleolithic period.[14][15][16][17][18] At the time of exploration, the nine types of artifacts discovered are: (1) Flake - 1, (2) Knife - 1, (3) Blade Hake - 3, (4) Point - 1, (5) Borer scrapper - 1, (6) Hand axe - 1, (7) Spilt pebbles - 1.
  • Khangkhui cave - Located in Ukhrul district, the rock type found is of limestone Cretaceous origin. Discovered in 1969, there are four caves in the Khangkhui, two on the western slopes and two on the eastern slopes. Cave number 1 and 2 are on the western and number 3 and 4 on the eastern slopes. Numerous stalactites are found hanging on the roof of the cave. Exploratory work started in 1969-1972 but was abruptly stopped due to unfavorable circumstances. The tools discovered are of two types, limestone tools (96.4℅) and sandstone tools (2.2℅). Bone tools were significantly found in the cave no. 3, especially of Cervus, Sus and Bonvines. Though some suggest that the age of the earliest existence of the stone culture at the Khangkhui to be around 15,000 BC, T.C. Sharma opined it to be around 30,000 BCE, belonging to the Upper or Late Paleolithic period.[19][20][21]
  • Nongpok Keithelmanbi - Discovered the stone culture in 1982-1984, the Nongpok Keithelmanbi is an archeological site of Paleolithic period and post Paleolithic period (Mesolithic period).[22][23] The exploration site was classified into Locality-1 (Mesolithic), Locality-2 (Paleolithic) and Locality-3 (Paleolithic). The site is estimated to be of Upper or Late Paleolithic period.[24] Most artifacts are made of Quartzitic sandstone pebbles and few of chert.[25][26]
  • Singtom - Discovered in 1989 in Chandel district of Manipur, 16 stone tools relics are collected from the site. These are (1) hand axe, (2) work flat pebble with round edge, (3) flaked pebbles, (4) blade, (5) flake, (6) pebble striker, (7) split pebble, (8) waste flake. All these are made up of Quartzitic sandstone.[27][28]
  • Machi - Discovered in 1974 in Chandel district and Tengnoupal district of Manipur, this archeological site dates back to the period of early Stone Age and Lower Paleolithic period.[29][30][31][32][33]

Mesolithic period[edit]

Further information: Mesolithic

The Mesolithic period (Hoabinhian period or post Paleolithic period or pre Neolithic period) has two remarkable archeological sites in Manipur. These are the Nongpok Keithelmanbi and the Tharon cave.[34][35]

  • Nongpok Keithelmanbi - The locality-1 out of the three localities (sections) of this site belongs to the Mesolithic period, while the others belong to the Paleolithic period. Most tools are made of the Quartzitic sandstone. Seventy nine artifacts of mesolithic period are discovered in this site. These are:- (1) Chisel edge pebble tools, (2) Round edge pebble tools, (3) Pebble pick, (4) Scrapper, (5) Blade, (6) Split pebble, (7) Pebble with batter marks, (8) Pebble with ground faces, (9) Flake and (10) Manu port. Approximate time dates back to 4460+-120 BP.[36]
  • Tharon cave - First exploration took place in 1979 by the State Archeology Department Government of Manipur, and again retaken in 1989, five caves were discovered so far. 39 mesolithic artifacts were discovered. These are:- (1) Chopping tools, (2) Hand adze, (3) Hand axe, (4) Pointed tools, (5) Scrapper, (6) Edge ground knife, (7) Quern, (8) Grinder, (9) twenty five unclassified ground pebbles.[37][38]

Neolithic period[edit]

Further information: Neolithic

The Neolithic period is the last of the three Stone Age periods. It has 4 archeological sites in Manipur.[39][40] These are (1) Napachik,[41] (2) Laimanai,[42] (3) Phunan,[43] (4) Nongpok Keithelmanbi.[44]

  • Napachik - Excavation discovered 116 artifacts of Neolithic period from the site in Wangoo village.[45][46][47][48][49][50]
  • Laimanai - Excavation started in 1990 and discovered many more than 70 stone artifacts of Neolithic period.[51][52]
  • Phunan - Discovered in October, 1967, though some artifacts of Neolithic period were discovered so far, there is no official excavation took place till now.[53][54][55]
  • Nongpok Keithelmanbi - Besides having the existence during the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods, this site also houses stone artifacts of Neolithic period, including the corded wares and ill fired potteries.[56][57]

Bibliography[edit]

Other websites[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ https://mastec.nic.in/archaeological-evidences.html
  2. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_1
  3. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_2
  4. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_3
  5. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_4
  6. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_5
  7. ↑ https://mastec.nic.in/archaeological-evidences.html
  8. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_2
  9. ↑ https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2019/8/28/11-The-geomorphology-of-the-Manipur-valley-profile-shows-gradual-sloping-in-elevation-from-west-to-east-direction-on-one-hand-and-north-to-south-direction-on-the-other-And-there-is-credible-evidenc.html
  10. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_1
  11. ↑ https://mastec.nic.in/archaeological-evidences.html
  12. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_2
  13. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_2
  14. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=MiHhNkvrWvwC&pg=PA21&dq=songbu+cave&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjvo4CYrZLxAhWxzDgGHQI1B4QQ6AEwBnoECAsQAw#v=onepage&q=songbu%20Palaeolithic&f=false
  15. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=kbu_AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA13&dq=songbu+cave&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjvo4CYrZLxAhWxzDgGHQI1B4QQ6AEwBXoECAgQAw#v=onepage&q=songbu%20cave&f=false
  16. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=GP9_AAAAMAAJ&dq=songbu+cave&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=songbu+Palaeolithic
  17. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_2
  18. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=8DVuAAAAMAAJ&dq=songbu+cave&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=songbu+Palaeolithic
  19. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DPWGpVvBvx8C&pg=PA25&dq=khangkhui+Paleolithic&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwid5ciKr5LxAhU_zzgGHfBHAWAQ6AEwBXoECAcQAw#v=onepage&q=khangkhui%20Paleolithic&f=false
  20. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=reuQbFK9Rz4C&pg=PA26&dq=khangkhui+Paleolithic&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwid5ciKr5LxAhU_zzgGHfBHAWAQ6AEwAXoECAgQAw#v=onepage&q=khangkhui%20Paleolithic&f=false
  21. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_3
  22. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DHCGN-Xu7YIC&pg=PA18&dq=nongpok+Keithelmanbi+Paleolithic&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi418mwsJLxAhUUyjgGHbESAKAQ6AEwAnoECAQQAw#v=onepage&q=nongpok%20Keithelmanbi%20Palaeolithic&f=false
  23. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=QQWMc7_qj4kC&pg=PA145&dq=nongpok+Keithelmanbi+Paleolithic&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi418mwsJLxAhUUyjgGHbESAKAQ6AEwCHoECAYQAw#v=onepage&q=nongpok%20Keithelmanbi%20Palaeolithic&f=false
  24. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=W8gbAQAAMAAJ&dq=nongpok+Keithelmanbi+Paleolithic&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=nongpok+Keithelmanbi+Palaeolithic
  25. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=kbu_AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA13&dq=nongpok+Keithelmanbi+Paleolithic&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi418mwsJLxAhUUyjgGHbESAKAQ6AEwBHoECAMQAw#v=onepage&q=nongpok%20Keithelmanbi%20Paleolithic&f=false
  26. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_3
  27. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_3
  28. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=W8gbAQAAMAAJ&q=singtom+Palaeolithic&dq=singtom+Palaeolithic&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwilzdj4tZLxAhW-qksFHcuWCcAQ6AEwA3oECAwQAw
  29. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=BGaBAAAAMAAJ&q=machi+Palaeolithic+tengnoupal&dq=machi+Palaeolithic+tengnoupal&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj7vOa6t5LxAhWwlEsFHWebDiYQ6AEwA3oECAQQAw
  30. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=uFg8AAAAMAAJ&q=machi+Palaeolithic+tengnoupal&dq=machi+Palaeolithic+tengnoupal&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj7vOa6t5LxAhWwlEsFHWebDiYQ6AEwAnoECAkQAw
  31. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=BGaBAAAAMAAJ&q=machi+Palaeolithic+Manipur&dq=machi+Palaeolithic+Manipur&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJ0qP8tpLxAhWayjgGHSl2B1IQ6AEwA3oECAQQAw
  32. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_3
  33. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&pg=PA393&dq=machi+Palaeolithic+tengnoupal&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj7vOa6t5LxAhWwlEsFHWebDiYQ6AEwBHoECAYQAw#v=onepage&q=machi%20Palaeolithic%20tengnoupal&f=false
  34. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=GP9_AAAAMAAJ&dq=tharon+cave+mesolithic&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=tharon+mesolithic
  35. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_4
  36. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_4
  37. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=GP9_AAAAMAAJ&dq=tharon+cave+mesolithic&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=tharon+mesolithic
  38. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_4
  39. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_5
  40. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264901065_Dikshit_KN_and_Manjil_Hazarika_2012_%27The_Neolithic_cultures_of_Northeast_India_and_adjoining_regions_A_comparative_study%27_Journal_of_Indian_Ocean_Archaeology_7_98-148#pf6
  41. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=4FOBAAAAMAAJ&q=napachik&dq=napachik&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiM6PDIqpLxAhXlzjgGHRH5AtUQ6AEwA3oECAYQAw
  42. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=4FOBAAAAMAAJ&dq=napachik&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Laimanai
  43. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=4FOBAAAAMAAJ&dq=napachik&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Phunan
  44. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=4FOBAAAAMAAJ&dq=napachik&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Nongpok
  45. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&pg=PA393&dq=napachik&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiM6PDIqpLxAhXlzjgGHRH5AtUQ6AEwAnoECAsQAw#v=onepage&q=napachik&f=false
  46. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=U3NuAAAAMAAJ&q=napachik&dq=napachik&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiM6PDIqpLxAhXlzjgGHRH5AtUQ6AEwAXoECAUQAw
  47. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Stratigraphy-of-Napachik-excavation-1985-after-Singh-1997-68_fig11_264901065
  48. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Pottery-from-excavation-at-Napachik-Manipur-after-Singh-1993_fig12_264901065
  49. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Tripod-ware-legs-from-Napachik-after-Singh-1997-75_fig14_264901065
  50. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_5
  51. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Corded-Tripod-wares-from-Laimanai-after-Singh-1997-77_fig13_264901065
  52. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_5
  53. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Surface-collection-Corded-ware-from-Phunan-hills-Manipur-after-Singh-1993_fig8_264901065
  54. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/10-Surface-collection-from-Phunan-hills-Manipur-after-Singh-1993_fig9_264901065
  55. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_5
  56. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Pottery-from-excavation-at-Nongpok-Keithelmanbi-Manipur-after-Singh-1993_fig10_264901065
  57. ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Scientific_Papers.Emergence_Of_Manipur_As_A_Nation_State_Pre_historic_Manipur_Part_5
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/index.php?title=Prehistory_of_Kangleipak&oldid=304678"