Prehistory and Protohistory in India and Pakistan c7.s10: Raw Material

c7.s10.1

The raw material differs from region to region, but even here there is a distinct uniformity which unites all the regional groups. What the man needed was a fine-grained material. So while all over the Deccan, where there are veins of jasper, chert etc. in the basaltic trap, the material is invariably this, whether it be Maharashtra, Central India—West or East—and Saurashtra. Even elsewhere, for instance in Orissa, Andhra or Mysore (North Karnatak), it is the jaspery, brownish chert or jasper which is the preferred material, though in Kurnool, sometimes quartzite is also used. In Western Rajputana and north Central India outside the Malwa plateau (which is of trap), the preference is for flint or flint-like chert or jasper, which is yellowish and patinated beautifully like flint.