Subsistence pattern of Neolithic people:

(i) A significant change took place in the Neolithic phase. People now started cultivation. They began cultivating various kinds of crops such as wheat, barley, rice, millet, lentils, etc., depending on the geographical conditions. Agricultural gave impetus to animal domestication.

(ii) Hunting still remained an important occupation. The people domesticated animals which includes sheep, goat, cattle, etc., and also hunted wild animals such as boar, nilgai, gazells, etc.

(iii) The tools of Neolithic people consisted of the ground tools having smooth surfaces, and well rounded and symmetrical shapes. The ground stone tools of the Neolithic period included different types of axes called ‘celt’. The Neolithic people also used various types of bone objects such as needles, scrapers, borers arrowheads, bangles and earrings.

(iv) The Neolithic people also manufactured pottery, which was initially hand made and later turned on wheel and fired in large kilns. These were the major means of storage for grains.

In nutshell, we can say that the Neolithic cultures were characterised by change from hunting and gathering to cultivation of plant and domestication of animals. The new polished tools made it easier for humans to cultivate hunt and perform other activities in a better manner. It led to greater availability of food resources as well as to an increase in population, which is turn resulted in the increase in the number of village settlements. The Neolithic cultures created the conditions which helped in the growth of towns in the later period.