The Indian Microlithic (Mesolithic) period, spanning roughly 10,000 to 2,000 BCE, represents a crucial transitional phase where hunter-gatherer economies began to incorporate elements of incipient food production, including early animal domestication. Evidence for this shift primarily comes from zooarchaeological findings at key sites across the subcontinent.

Primary Evidence: Faunal Remains (Zooarchaeology)

1. Species Identification: The presence of bones from species known to be early domesticates, such as cattle (Bos indicus), sheep (Ovis aries), and goat (Capra hircus), in archaeological contexts dating to the Mesolithic period. These are found alongside wild fauna, indicating a mixed economy.
2. Demographic Profiles: Analysis of the age and sex ratios of animal bones recovered from sites. A higher proportion of juvenile males and adult females in the faunal assemblage suggests selective culling strategies consistent with herd management. For instance, young males might be slaughtered for meat, while adult females are kept for breeding, milk, or other products, a pattern distinct from indiscriminate hunting of wild populations.
3. Morphological Changes: Over generations, domesticated animals often exhibit morphological changes compared to their wild ancestors. These can include a reduction in overall body size, changes in horn core shape, and alterations in bone robusticity due to selective breeding and reduced physical demands. While subtle in early stages, these changes provide strong evidence.
4. Pathologies and Injuries: Evidence of diseases, injuries, or wear patterns on bones that might be associated with confinement, human handling, or use as working animals (e.g., arthritis in draft animals), though this is more common in later stages of domestication.
5. Geographic Distribution: The presence of these animal species outside their natural wild ranges, suggesting human transport and management.

Key Archaeological Sites with Evidence:

• Adamgarh (Madhya Pradesh): This site provides some of the earliest and most compelling evidence for animal domestication in India, dating back to around 7000-5000 BCE. Faunal remains include domesticated cattle, sheep, and goat, alongside wild species. The demographic analysis of cattle bones strongly suggests controlled breeding and herd management.
• Bagor (Rajasthan): Another significant Mesolithic site, Bagor (Phase I, c. 5000-3000 BCE) has yielded evidence of domesticated sheep and goat. The presence of these animals, combined with a rich microlithic industry, points towards a subsistence strategy that integrated hunting-gathering with early pastoralism.
• Langhnaj (Gujarat): Faunal assemblages from Langhnaj also indicate the presence of domesticated cattle, sheep, and goat, further supporting the widespread nature of early animal management in the Indian Mesolithic.

Indirect Evidence:

• Microlithic Tool Assemblages: While primarily used for hunting, some microlithic tools, particularly geometric forms, could have been hafted into composite tools like sickles (initially for wild grain harvesting, later for fodder) or tools for processing animal products, indirectly supporting a closer human-animal interaction.
• Settlement Patterns: The emergence of more semi-permanent or permanent settlements during the later Mesolithic might be linked to the need to stay close to managed herds or cultivated plots.

In conclusion, the Indian Microlithic industry provides substantial zooarchaeological evidence, particularly from sites like Adamgarh and Bagor, for the early stages of animal domestication, primarily of cattle, sheep, and goat. This indicates a significant shift in subsistence strategies, marking the transition towards a mixed economy that laid the groundwork for the subsequent agricultural revolution in the subcontinent.