Southern Neolithic

Southern Neolithic appears on the timeline as a people or culture of Deccan (South Asia) from c. 3000 to 1200 BCE, a span of 1,800 years. Its people spoke Dravidian languages (Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam).

Cattle herders and millet farmers of Karnataka and Andhra who periodically burned huge dung heaps into the ash mounds of Utnur and Kupgal. Many archaeologists link them to early Dravidian speakers.

See Southern Neolithic on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 3000 to 1200 BCE
Duration: 1,800 years
Type: People or culture
Region: Deccan, South Asia
Language family: Dravidian

Events in South Asia during its time

2600 BCE Indus cities reach their height
1900 BCE Indus cities decline
1500 BCE Rigveda hymns composed

Neighbours in South Asia

Kuru Kingdom c. 1200 to 500 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Minoan civilization c. 3100 to 1450 BCE, Europe
Shang dynasty c. 1600 to 1046 BCE, East Asia
Old Kingdom of Egypt c. 2686 to 2181 BCE, North and West Africa
New Kingdom of Egypt c. 1550 to 1069 BCE, North and West Africa
Old Babylonian Empire 1894 to 1595 BCE, Middle East
Hittite Empire (New Kingdom) c. 1400 to 1180 BCE, Middle East
Akkadian Empire c. 2334 to 2154 BCE, Middle East

Questions

When did Southern Neolithic exist?

c. 3000 to 1200 BCE, about 1,800 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Southern Neolithic?

Deccan, in South Asia.

What language did Southern Neolithic speak?

Dravidian. This family includes Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam.