Mahagara, a Neolithic site that has given evidence of cattle pens (cattle rearing), is located in which district of Uttar Pradesh?

Mahagara is a Neolithic site in the Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) district of Uttar Pradesh, in the hilly region to the south of the Ganga.

About Mahagara:

It was excavated by the University of Allahabad, under G. R. Sharma, in the 1970s.

It belongs to the Neolithic period, perhaps from around the 5th or 4th millennium BCE according to some estimates, though dates are debated.

Important finds:

• Remains of round huts, with post-holes that held up the roofs.
• A large enclosure, interpreted as a cattle pen, which could have held a large number of animals; hoof marks of cattle were found inside it.
• This is important evidence of the domestication and rearing of cattle in the Neolithic period.
• Polished stone axes (celts), microliths, bone tools, querns (grinding stones) and pestles.
• Handmade pottery, including cord-impressed pottery.
• Rice husk and grains, showing that people used rice.
• Domestic animals found included cattle, sheep and goat.

Neolithic culture of the Vindhyas:

• The northern edge of the Vindhyan hills, in the Prayagraj and Mirzapur districts, has many Neolithic sites.
• These sites show the change from hunting and gathering to farming and animal herding.
• They are among the earliest farming sites of the Ganga plains.

Features of the Neolithic Age:

• Polished stone tools.
• Agriculture and domestication of animals.
• Pottery.
• Permanent settlements and village life.

About G. R. Sharma:

He was a well-known archaeologist of the University of Allahabad, who led excavations at Kaushambi and many prehistoric sites.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Mirzapur has many rock shelters with paintings.
• ✗Varanasi and Gorakhpur have other archaeological sites, but Mahagara is in Prayagraj district.