Page 37 - SST Class 06

WHAT SKELETAL STUDIES TELL US? the following conclusions :
The archaeologists have also discovered various 1. Sex of a Person : Although there are no
other objects at this site. The study of these major difference in the bones of a girl or a
objects has revealed the following: boy. Yet experts can make out whether the
skeleton belongs to male or female.
1. Metals Used : Gold and copper were
known to the people. As jewellery and tools This is done by studying the bone structure.
found at the site, were made of these metals. The hip or pelvic area of a woman is
generally larger than man's, especially, if the
2. Domesticated Animals : Bones of a
woman is of child bearing age.
number of animals like elephants, antelope,
2. Age of a person
horse, blackbucks and hare have been
discovered. 3. Facial, complexion, height, etc.
Some 2,000 years ago, the famous physician,
3. Domesticated Plants : The seeds of grains
like wheat, barley, millet, pease, sesame and Charaka stated that the human body contains
360 bones, whereas, modern anatomy recognises
rice have been discovered in the graves.
only 206 bones. Charaka had arrived at the
These show the types of domesticated plants.
conclusion by counting the teeth, the joints and
4. Occupations : The pottery, tools, jewel- cartilages, as bones. Sometimes, some fantastic
lery, large houses and other evidences animal bones have also been discovered in these
suggests that people had different occupa- graves.
tions including crafts.
Skeletons as Evidence
Do you think that these animals did exist then? How
A skeleton is framework of bones, supporting the
do you think Charaka arrived at the conclusion that
body of an animal or human being. Even today, there are 360 bones of a human body?
skeletal studies are used to determine or arrive at

Terminology

Pastoral : concerning life in a village
Veda : the most ancient Hindu scriptures
Hymns : songs in praise of God
Ritual : religious ceremony
Chariot : a two-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses
Burial : the burying of a dead body
Megalith : a large stone, especially a monument
Sacrifice : the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else more important
Yoke : a pair of draft animals fastened together
Cairn : landmark

Inside Story
Inside Story
g The hymns were composed by sages (rishis).
g Sanskrit belongs to the Indo-European group of languages.
g The hymns of Rigveda are hymns in praise of Gods; some are dialogues between sages
and river.

Social Science-6 37