Bones, Beliefs, and Burials: Mesolithic India through Mortuary Evidences

Abstract (English)

The Mesolithic period in India, approximately dated between 10,000 and 5,000 BCE, represents a significant transitional phase in human history, characterized by a gradual shift from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to the beginnings of settled agriculture. Burials from this period offer valuable insights into the social organization, belief systems, and cultural practices of early human communities. In the Indian subcontinent, notable Mesolithic burial sites have been identified at locations such as Bagor (Rajasthan), Langhnaj (Gujarat), and Mahadaha (Uttar Pradesh) in different geographical terrains. These interments usually feature individuals positioned in a flexed or crouched posture, occasionally accompanied by grave goods such as stone tools, beads, or animal remains. Such items may indicate the deceased’s societal role or suggest belief in an afterlife. Variations in burial practices, including body positioning and the presence or absence of grave offerings, indicate possible social differentiation or ritual behaviour. Certain burials also exhibit symbolic elements, such as the application of red ochre, implying spiritual or ceremonial significance. Overall, Mesolithic mortuary practices in India provide important evidence of how early communities commemorated the dead and began to form complex cultural and symbolic funerary traditions. Ongoing archaeological research continues to shed light on the emotional and societal dimensions of these prehistoric populations.