Post graduation. Archaeology. University of Delhi. By Sanchit Raj.
MICROLITHS IN THE PLEISTOCENE”
SUBMITTED BY:- SANCHIT RAJ
SRI VENKATESWARA COLLEGE
PRE HISTORY AND PROTO HISTORY OF INIDA.
The Quarternary period includes the pleistocene and Holocene epoch, corresponding to the “period of the ice-ages” to the “recent”.
The pleistocene epoch is divided into:-
- Early pleistocene:- from 2.5/1.8 ma to 0.79 ma BP.
- Middle pleistocene:- from 0.79 ma BP to the beginning of the last interglacial at about 1,03,000 BP.
- LATE PLEISTOCENE:- from the last interglacial to the beginning of the present interglacial Holocene epoch at about 12,000 years ago.
Introduction——
Basically, microlithic tools making technology developed from the upper palaeolithic tools technology made on blades or small flakes by retouched techniques. Microlithic technologies play a central role in debates over human origins and dispersals, responses to risk and climate change, and the emergence of modern human capacities for complex behaviour and symbolic though ( clark 1968, Neely & Barton 1994 ). The repeated invention of microlithic industries , here defined as systematic microblade and / or backed artifact production, has been documented for both modern and archaic humans at different times and in widely separated parts of the world.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MICROLITHS IN PLEISTOCENE:-
Microlithic tools making technologoy developed from the upper palaeolithic tools technology made on blades or small flakes by retouched techniques.The upper palaeolithic period notices further reduction in size and weight of the tools. This phase is dominated by tool types described as flakes and burins. The technique used in the upper palaeolithic period was that of pressure flaking, a technique in which pressure was applied by chisel- like stone so that parallel sided blades with regular width and thickness would jump of the core material. this technique not only yielded smaller tools with better cutting edges but also led to less wastage of precious raw material. The main advantage of the upper palaeolithic tools, according to Allchin ( 1997:74), was that being lighter they could be carried over a long distance , if necessary far from their sourcesof supply or ” factory sites”.The use of bone tools formed an important feature of the upper palaeolithic age in Europe, but in India these tools in the shape of scrapers, chisels,etc have been reported only from the cave called Muchchatta chintamani gavi at Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. Therefore ,as Chakrabarti points out (1999:78) ,it is not known wheather bone tools formed a component of upper palaeolithic man’s tool-kit at other places in India too or their use was limited to this part of Andhra alone.
A large number of palaeolithic sites are spread almost all over the Indian subcontinent, from the foot- hills of the Himalayas in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south, and from Peshawar and sind in the west to Meghalaya ( Garo hills) and Bengal in the east.
Some important sites are :- - 1.Bhimbetka 6. Guler
- 2.Riwat 7.Hathnora
- 3.Didwana 8. Attirampakkam
- 4.Adamgarh 9. Hunsgi
- 5.Nevasa 10. Patne
but if we monitor the evidence properly then we can shape our thought about ” microliths in pleistocene” that major portions of these microliths had been found from mesolithic culture. The mesolithic culture or middle stone age culture represent a phase of transition from the preceding hunting and food gathering stage of the palaeolithic period to that of farming and herding in the succeeding Neolithic period. The earliest evidence of the presence of mesolithic man in India was noted as early as 1867-1868 by A.C.L. Carlyle who had discovered a large number of the Kaimur range ( Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh). But there had been no significant progress in our knowledge of mesolithic period until H.D. Sankalia undertook excavation in 1950s at Langhnaj and other places in Gujarat.sometimes mesolithic period is treated as a later part of the palaeolithic age ( epipalaeolithic) but in Indian context the term mesolithic has come to be accepted as a separate phase of the pre- historic culture. It was marked by a significant improvement in tool- technology and life pattern though some of the earlier traditions continued to exist.
first appearance of microlithic tools on the subcontinent or microliths in the pleistocene:-
:- discoveries of several sites in some parts of the country, especially in Deccan plateau, like Patne and Bori & Jwalapuram locality 9 ( Andhra Pradesh) with upper palaeolithic.
:- The oldest microliths ( backed tools including triangles and trapezes) were found in the layers dated to even 34,000 BP.
:– Microliths tools from Patne ( Sali,1980,1985) had their first appearance in upper palaeolithic phase.
:- The microliths from Bori are dated to 30,000 BP.
:- Other sites with microliths from late pleistocene are also known , like the site of Inamgaon in Maharashtra, Baghor in Madhya Pradesh ( Kennoyer,2000) and Chopani Mando in Uttar Pradesh (Sharma,1980).
A BRIEF HISTORY OF MESOLITHIC RESEARCH IN INDIA
:- In early as 1867-1868 when it was used by A.C.L. Carlyle, in reference to discoveries of microlithic tools in large number in caves or rock shelters in the Kaimur range in the Mirzapur district ( Uttar Pradesh) and adjioning Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh.
:- R.B.Foote also discovered the microlithic tools in several parts of the country but did not come on any conclusion.
:-Small scale diggings were done by D.H. Gordon in rock – shelter of Panchmarhi in Madhya Pradesh in the 1930s.
:- H.D.Sankalia excavated Langhanj & and other sites in Gujarat in the early forties or fifties.
:- Last five or six decades so more than 20,000 microlithic sites have been discovered in widely separated ares of India & more than 100 sites have been excavated in different region in India.
THE SETTLEMENTS OF MESOLITHIC PERIOD CAN BE LISTED IN FOLLOWING ZONES:-
1 Arid & semi-arid zone of north- west India -sandy area. - Hilly area of central Indian Narmada,Belan & son rivers – rock shelters and caves areas.
- Middle Ganga valley – lake- shore or Alluvial plain areas.
- Lower Ganga valley ( states of Bihar and West Bengal), East India plateau ( Chotanagpur) with the coasts of Orissa – alluvial plain areas.
- Deccan plateau – rocky plain area.
- The extreme south- coastal area.
BENEFITS OF MICROLITHIC TECHNOLOGIES:-
Typical benefits of microlithic technologies include increased standardisation of implements facilitating easier repair and maintenance, multifunctionality via different hafting arrangements, and the potential for increasing the effectiveness and reliability of weapon & tools through the use of multiple serial inserts ( Bleed 1986,Myers 1989, Attenbrow 2008).
MODE OF OCCURRENCE:-
Hitherto microliths have been found in the following contexts:-
:- microliths with palaeolithic like tools. for instances in Kurnool,Kandivli, and Marahna ( Morhana) pahar in Rewa.
:-microliths with pottery from surface.
:-microliths from hill- sides, rock shelters and sandy plains as in Bombay , central India, Northern Gujarat, west Rajputana and teris of southern India.
:-microliths with a little pottery from exacations. for eg., Langhnaj, Panchmarhi.
:– microliths without any pottery from excavations.
:- microliths with painted pottery and copper tools.
All kind of microlithic tools may be divided into two categories:- - Non- geometric tools
- Geometric tools
- Non- geometric tools:-
These tools were the first stage of this period and after this period ,geometric tools came in light.some kinds of tools included in non-geometric catergory:- - Irregular , free flaked tools
- Fluted core tools:,, conical, cylindrical,elliptical ,flat based etc.
3.Flake tools:,, simple flakes, parallel side flakes.
4.Point:,,regular,irregular,crescent,triangular - Scrapper:,,side,end, thumb nail, concave scrappers
6.borers
7.Lunate - burins
- Geometric tools:-
- Triangle( equilateral, Isosceles, scalane )
- Trapezium
- Trapezoid
- Transverse arrowhead
- Borer
- Micro Burin
Salient features :-
The mesolithic period coincides with the beginning of the holocene age, around 10,000 BP or 8,000 BC.This age, as mentioned earlier, witnessed a change in climate from cold , and arid to warm and wet on account of the gradual recession of the glaciers. this change led to the menting of snow and the formation of rivers resulting in the growth of forests and vegetation. The study of pollens and sediments by Guedwwp singh and his associates in Rajasthan and the geological studies by ‘ Williams’ and ‘clark’ in eastern Madhya Pradesh indicate that there was a marked increase in rainfall in these regions at the beginning of the holocene age( chakrabarti,1999:95-98). It became essential for the mesolithic man to make necessary modifications in his tool types. The characteristics tool of the mesolithic period was ‘microliths’, a small sized stone tools of different shapes which could be hafted on a wooden or a bone handle to make a ” composite tool” or a weapon such as spear, arrow, sickle, or saw.
These tools could be employed more profitably for hunting as well as for collecting vegetable food. An important feature of the mesolithic period was the significant growth in population and the change in demographic profile. further , it is this during this period that the humans extended their habitat into the alluvial plains of the Ganga in the south-central Uttar Pradesh. Interestingly, two of the sites, viz, Chopani Mando and Sarai Nahar Rai ( Allahabad- Pratapgarh area ) in this region are situated as far as eighty km from the nearest sources of basic raw material of stone . It has led V.N. Mishra to argue that it was the growth in population which must have forced these human groups to settle in far off areas where they had to import stone for their requirements.
the use of microliths as arrows or spear- heads greatly improved the hunting efficiency of the mesolithic man. The evidence of the querns and mullers which appear for the first time in this period further confirms that plant food was supplementing the animal diet. thus, assured of better food supply, the mesolithic man led a healthier and a longer life.
The grave goods such as bone beads, rings etc, put along with the dead in some of the graves, are greatly helpful in giving us an insight into the beliefs, rituals and the craft activities of the mesolithic man. finally, the earliest rock paintings in India belong primarily, to this period.
REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION:-
Microliths in the pleistocene ( later period) are located all over the country, except in the regions of north-east India and delta of Bengal in the east, the Punjab plain ans the Gangetic plain beyond Allahabad in the North, and Kerela in the south. It is believed that the absence of microlithic sites in these areas was due to the lack of stone for making tools or to heavy rainfall and dense vegetation.
However, their density is far greater in some ares like Marwar and Mewar in Rajasthan, North- Gujarat and the alluvial plain of the Ganga in South-cental U.P.,i.e.,Allahabad- Mirzapur area.
Among the important microliths sites references may be:-
- Bagor & Tilwara ( Rajasthan)
- Langhnaj ( Gujarat)
- Bhimbetka, Adamgarh, & and Baghor ( Madhya Pradesh )
- Chopani-mando, Sarai nahar rai, Mahadaha, Damdama,Lekhania ( Uttar Pradesh).
- Birbhanpur ( west Bengal)
- Kuchai ( Orissa)
- Sanaganakallu( Karnataka)
In the south Tamil Nadu region, the microliths have been reported in the red sand dunes which are locally known as teris, and thus this industry is known as ‘teri industry’. An overview of the spread of microlithic sites will indicate that the mesolithic communities were settled in avariety of environments which included sand dunes, rock shelters and also the alluvial plains of the mid- Ganga valley where thry had enough water, food resources, and raw materials for tools. they also extended their habitat into areas either totally unoccupied or occupied only sparsely.
MATERIAL CULTURE AND SUBSISTENCE PATTERN.
Our knowledge on the dwellings and material culture of the mesolithic people is quite limited. however, the excavations at certain sites such as Baghor, Tilwara,etc. have revealed that they lived in a semi- permanent hut like structures having wattle and daub walls ( walls made of tree twigs and branches plastered with mud) and paved floors. At Bagor and Adamgarh there is evidence of domestication of cattle, sheep and goat. Allchin (1997:92) however doubts the domestication of cattle but agrees that sheep/goat were ” certainly domesticated” in this period.
The grave goods obtained from the graves give us an important insight into the material culture of the mesolithic people. these goods include microliths and bone ornaments. At Mahadaha, one skeleton is wearing an earring along with a necklace of beads made of antler bone. Mahadaha has in fact been identified as a place where bone tools and ornaments were manufactured ( Allchin:1997:92 ). Beads of semi- precious stones such as Jasper and Agate have been reported from Bagor,Bhimbetka, and Adamgarh ( V.D. Misra,1999:238). It appears that the ornaments were probably used by the people of higher status and may indicate the beginning of some sort of social division or stratification in the mesolithic period, the nature and characteristics of which are not clear.this period, anyway, reveals the earliest use of ornaments and sheds enough lights on the craft activity and aesthetic of the mesolithic people.
CONCLUSION:-
On the given topic ,” microliths in pleistocene ” we have seen that it covers the time period from upper palaeolithic to mesolithic period. we have also seen in the developments of tools & technology, in the form of microliths and ‘ composite tools’ as well as by some progress towards the domestication of animals and plant collection.The evidence from Langhnaj ( Gujarat) , Bagor( Rajasthan) ,and Adamgarh( Madhya Pradesh ) which have reported the bones of sheep and cattle indicates that initial microlithic phase of hunting economy was being gradually replaced by cattle- herding.
The existence of hut- like structures and the food- processing artifacts such as querns and mullers indicate the beginning of a quasi- sedentary or semi- settled life.though, it is not possible at the present stage to define how settled was their life, it may be surmised that whereever food and water was available all the year around, the mesolithic people might have lived permanently. thus, the life pattern in the mesolithic period suggests that man was already on the threshold of the neolithic phase- a phase dominated by the beginning of farming activities ,cattle – herding and settled life.
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
UNIVERSITY OF DELHI.
ViRASAT 