• Vivek

The excavation of the Mehrgarh period sites around 8000-6000 BC throws some startling facts about ancient Indian food habits. The domestication of plants and animals are reported in the subcontinent during that time. Wheat, barley and jujube were among crops cultivated, sheep and goats were among the animals domesticated for food. In the Neolithic period roughly 8000-5000 BC, agriculture products were the dominant mode of food products. Agricultural communities became widespread in Kashmir valley around 5000 BC. As early as 4530 BC and 5440 BC wild Oryza rice appeared in the Belan and Ganges valley regions of northern India. The earliest evidence of food in ancient India comes from excavated sites in the Indus Valley Civilization. The Indus Valley civilization grew wheat and barley as their staple food. Besides this, they also grew peas, sesamum, lentils and other pulses. In some places, particularly Gujarat, they also grew millets.It has not been proved if they consumed rice or not. Though they fed wild rice to their cattle, rice does not become an important crop until post-Harappan phase. Fruits were also included in their diet, notably, melon, pomegranate, coconut fruit and banana. The people of the valley were habituated in creating ornaments in the shape of various fruits which were found during excavation. Dates, grapes and melons were also grown by farmers.The people of the Indus Valley civilization were not all vegetarians. Meat formed an important part of their diet. Included in this list are chicken, mutton, beef, pork, fresh local fishes and dried fishes from the sea coast. Buffaloes, sheep, goats and cows were reared for milk too. Along with that, they also hunted deer, antelopes and wild boars.

Munda, Nisada, Nimbu, Haldi, Barley, Wheat, Nimbu, Arisi, Shakkara, Dhals, Mung, Urad, Massor, Savanin, Punjistha.

"Food Habits in Ancient India before the Arrival of Aryans", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 5, page no.806-809, May 2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1805876.pdf

"Food Habits in Ancient India before the Arrival of Aryans", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 5, page no. pp806-809, May 2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1805876.pdf