Neolithic cultures in South India, primarily dating from around 3000 BCE to 1000 BCE, represent a significant transition from hunting-gathering to settled agricultural life. These cultures are predominantly found in the Deccan plateau, particularly in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Tamil Nadu. Key sites include Brahmagiri, Maski, Piklihal, Utnur, and Tekkalakota.

Characteristic features include the presence of polished stone tools, such as axes, adzes, and chisels, which were more efficient for clearing forests and tilling land than their earlier counterparts. Pottery, initially handmade and coarse, later evolved into wheel-made and finer wares, often with red or grey slips. Evidence of agriculture is widespread, with the cultivation of millets (like ragi), pulses (like horse gram), and sometimes wheat and barley. Animal husbandry was also crucial, with cattle, sheep, and goats being domesticated, as indicated by bone remains and ash mounds (accumulations of burnt cow dung, suggesting seasonal cattle penning).

Settlements were typically small villages, often located on hilltops or river terraces, providing natural defense and access to resources. Houses were circular or rectangular, made of wattle and daub. Burial practices varied, including urn burials and extended burials, sometimes within the habitation area. The presence of megalithic monuments in later phases suggests a continuity and evolution into the Iron Age. These cultures laid the foundation for subsequent complex societies in the region, demonstrating early forms of social organization, resource management, and technological innovation.