Prehistory and Protohistory in India and Pakistan c7.s17: Bombay Area

Prehistory and Protohistory in India and Pakistan c7.s17

Language: English

c7.s17.t1 Cores — 30 parts
c7.s17.t2 Scrapers — 11 parts
c7.s17.t3 Cleavers (?) — 15 parts

Bombay Area

c7.s17.1

A reference was made above to the tools discovered by TODD at Kandivli and other sites in what is now called "Greater Bombay," and it was said that the writer's subsequent work at Kandivli gave a different picture. The background of this new study and the results are given below in detail. (See Fig. 50)

c7.s17.2

The Western Coast, including Bombay, consists of a series of islands, creeks, lagoons and bays, which bestow a picturesque appearance to the whole topography of the region. It is not all a flat marshy land as Calcutta on the east coast.

c7.s17.3

While the sandy beaches and the slightly inland marshes are comparatively young, formed as they are in sub-recent times, the case of the entire coast is much older. All this again is basaltic,⁷⁶ formed by the lava flows during the Eocene times. Fossil buried forests from the Bombay harbour suggest that a period had intervened between this lava and the subrecent times when the alluvium was formed.

c7.s17.4

⁷⁵ I.A.R. 1959-60, p. 52-53.

c7.s17.5

⁷⁶ For details see the summary of recent work Souvenir published by the University of Bombay on the occasion of the 47th Session of the Indian Science Congress, Bombay, 1960. Among the various basaltic rocks may be mentioned the top basalt which is fine grained and glassy.

c7.s17.6

It is also probable that at one time in the past the coast line was also one continuous piece of land, but was later cut up into islands and creeks, owing to surface erosion and marine transgressions. Hills thus suddenly seem to rise up from the surrounding sandy plains, as at present day, near Chowpatty, Worli, Bandra, Marve, Madh island, Erangal Point, and Chembur. These Malabar Hill, Pali Hill, Worli Hill, Ashta, etc. are indeed residuary hillocks and were at one time part of the main land.

c7.s17.7

Besides these two—the sandy or at time marshy sea beaches and hills sometimes quite bare, but often covered with green vegetation, their slopes weathering into a reddish soil,—the small intermediate stretch of land, forming the foothills and the plains, also contains the deposits laid down by the Western flowing streams.

c7.s17.8

These, though running for a short length and not deserving the title of rivers, are very interesting and important. For these illustrate on a small scale several of the features of the river mechanism like erosion, aggradation, re-deposit, and river terraces which one witnesses in a large river. Above all, they contain some of the earliest records of man within Greater Bombay, though in the island of Bombay they are probably now irrecoverably lost. It is therefore quite possible that what was found by Todd and others at Kandivli may well be found right upto a point below Ghod Bandar or south of Bombay on the Ratnagiri coast. For the entire coast must have undergone similar geological and climatic conditions. What is now needed is an extended search along the coast.

c7.s17.9

With this very brief background about the physiographic features of the west coast, the Kandivli-Borivli area may be described in a little more detail.

c7.s17.10

As the One inch-to-one mile Survey Map shows, there is a narrow belt of alluvial land varying from half a mile to one and a half mile in width with occasional hillocks, for instance at Andheri (just behind the present Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan), Ambivli—which abuts on or lies against the slowly rising hilly area on the east. Even now it is fairly wooded, and contains three lakes—The Tulsi, Vihar and Pavai. The region immediately east of Kandivli-Borivli is comparatively very high, the highest peak probably being the Kanheri (the ancient Krishnagiri) hill.

c7.s17.11

Several small streams wind their way down to the coast to the creeks and estuaries, the most prominent among the former are the Dahisar Nadi and an unnamed Nala to the north-east respectively o. Borivli and Kandivli.

c7.s17.12

The Dahisar, situated about a mile north-east of Borivli, now flows through the Krishnagiri Upavana (National Park) and flowing north-westwards forms the biggest river.

c7.s17.13

The Kandivli Nala (to give it a name) is formed into a single nala about a mile north-eastwards from Kandivli station, and turning sharply south-eastwards meets the Malad Creek. However, before flowing as a single stream, it receives waters from at least seven streams, the northern-most being via Magathan, the southern almost due east of Malad.

c7.s17.14

The nalas east of Kandivli have cut through nearly two miles, almost the maximum stretch of rising ground or foot-hills. In the process have laid down a fairly thick deposit of pebbles, at times boulder gravels, which sometimes are intercalated by sands and clays, and capped by a thin deposit of humus.

c7.s17.15

A careful examination also revealed that there were at least two cycles of deposition and erosion. And these in turn might be related to the terrace-like formations which are distinctly visible at Kandivli and Borivli. Thus at Kandivli the part of the nala immediately north, north-east of the Padan Hill shows two interesting sections. The first is to the east of the hill which is being quarried. It appears that over 30 years ago, when this area was being quarried, huge cement blocks were made locally, possibly for filling up the Back Bay. Some of these even now lie just where they were made. For easy transport a road was made. It was perhaps a rail line as indicated by the map. To cross the nala, a small concrete bridge was made. This has now collapsed. Its foundation rested, on the southern side, on the pebbly blackish cemented gravel. However on the northern side, this gravel bed, is covered by clay and sandy deposits to a height of nearly 5 to 7 ft. The top, however, is disturbed and now capped by a fresh rubble on the eastern side, though on the western side, there is a brownish rubble which might be old. (*See Fig. 51-52*)

c7.s17.16

A little further, about 100 yards eastwards, the nala splits into several branches. But the southern-most as well as the one immediately next to it, shows for a considerable distance the accompanying section, its thickness varying with the nature of the ground. For as the rock bench is very high, the gravel and silt deposits are thin or almost non-existent.

c7.s17.17

To the eye it appears that this portion of the nala flows through a lower terrace, though this observation needs to be checked by actual levelling from a fixed point.

c7.s17.18

From every point of view—thickness, general appearance and details of constitution—this section appears to be identical with or comparable to the one described and illustrated photographically by Todd. However, a careful scrutiny first by three of us, then by Dr. SUBBARAO and Shri MALIK, and then by all of us in the company of Professor ZEUNER showed that the section did not reveal three different formations as described by TODD, but it was essentially one deposit. Essentially it consists of a rubble gravel with occasional large boulders or pebbles of basalt (formed not necessarily by fluviatile action, but by spheroidal weathering) laid in a matrix of sandy clay over the basal rock, which at places has weathered into a clayey layer. Thus we find from bottom upwards rock, clay, rubble gravel with sandy partings at places, and the top few inches of dark clay (humus).

c7.s17.19

As mentioned above, to the eye this gravel appears at a lower level than the first one below the collapsed bridge; secondly, it is more like a rubble, whereas the first has many more small rounded pebbles. Thirdly, this is weathered brownish-yellow and is comparatively loose, while the latter is better cemented, A - Greyish rubble with large angular rocks B - Brownish rubble C - Small chips at the base of the rubble D - Yellowish brown clay with very fine few angular rocks and occasional tools E - Yellow clay (silt) with occasional rocks F - Brownish fine gravel with occasional angular rocks and tools G - Blackish coarse gravel becoming bigger at the base and going beneath it.

c7.s17.20

WESTERN SECTION OF NALA 1 BEHIND SCHOOL OF P.C. AT KANDIVLI

c7.s17.21

Fig. 51.

c7.s17.22

EASTERN SECTION OF NALA 2 BEHIND SCHOOL OF P.C. AT KANDIVLI

c7.s17.23

A - RED SILT B - FINER GRAVEL C - UPPER GRAVEL - BROWN ANGULAR ROCKS & GRAVEL D - PATCH OF SANDY GRAVEL E - BROWNISH - RED ANGULAR ROCKS & GRAVEL F - YELLOW CLAY FROM WEATHERED ROCK G - ROCK (DECOMPOSED)

c7.s17.24

is stained blackish owing to manganese, while parts of stones and tools are deeply patinated. Thus the latter has all the features of an older and original gravel deposit, while the former might be a re-deposit. If this is so, then we may explain the formation of two gravel sections as follows: During the first wet phase and the succeeding dry one, the pebble gravel with a comparatively thick silt deposit was laid. This forms the top of the terrace, as we walk over the back of the Padan Hill, and continues southwards to the higher ground, or higher reaches of the nala. Here naturally the thickness of the deposit, as found by us, is nearly 15 ft. or more.

c7.s17.25

This earlier terrace was cut during the second wet phase, and a rubble gravel consisting mostly of the older material was laid. It was followed by a drier phase when a thin deposit of silt was formed. Sometimes later the present erosional phase started, when the nalas were re-opened.

c7.s17.26

That such processes have taken place in the region is clearly demonstrated in the Dahisar Valley at Borivli. Here just below the Gandhi memorial, a new pebbly blackish gravel with a thin layer of dark brown silt lies in a hollow cut out from the former gravel, against the weathered brownish gravel. It has also been cut by the river, and thus two distinct terraces can be seen here. (In fact, with this formation the total number of "terraces" on the Dahisar will be at least three).

c7.s17.27

We have no exact idea as to the number⁷⁷ of tools found by TODD at Borivli and Kandivli. Though there is a long exposed section on the Dahisar, no tools were found by us except a microlithic core of carnelian from the top soil; nor did MALIK discovery any.

c7.s17.28

⁷⁷ After writing this paper, I requested one of my former pupils, Professor N. ISAAC, when he was in England last year, to re-examine TODD's collections, if possible. In the appendix is given a tabulated list of tools in the Institute of Archaeology, University of London, kindly prepared by him with the permission of the authorities. I am thankful to both of them.

c7.s17.29

Kandivli has, however, yielded plenty of tools, because probably there are a large number of outcrops of chert, jasper and fine glassy basalt in the higher reaches. These are weathering in situ and may have supplied raw material to the Palaeolithic and Microlithic man.

c7.s17.30

However, no hand-axes, cleavers and other tools of truly Abbevillio-Acheulian facies were noticed by MALIK previously or by us, though we searched there for a long time. No doubt, there are pieces which superficially look like the illustrations given by TODD, of rostro-carinate, chopper etc.⁷⁸ Without being dogmatic, it may be said that the Early Palaeolithic industry is absent at Kandivli.

c7.s17.31

⁷⁸ TODD in J.R.A.I., 1939 pp. 261-62.

c7.s17.32

Our careful collection from (i) the basal gravel under the bridge, (ii) the overlying silt and sand, (iii) the rubble gravel and its junction with the top humus or blackish soil contains (a) large and small cores with deep flake scars and corresponding, (b) flakes with large prominent undersurface and a diffused bulb, (c) cores with occasional parallel flake scars, (d) Levallois flakes removed from fully prepared cores, (e) scrapers, (f) points and borers, made on the above type of flakes or at times on the cores or nodules and (g) Burin-like pieces.

c7.s17.33

The total collection is 84. Out of this the basal cemented gravel yielded 30 and the rest, here called "mixed deposit" 54. It may be classified as follows :

c7.s17.34

c7.s17.35

FIG. 53-54

Cores

c7.s17.t1.1

12 No. 11, KDL. A large amorphous core showing two techniques. On one side two or three flakes have been removed by direct percussion on either side with a stone hammer, leaving deep flake scars and a jagged edge. Almost on the opposite face, there are two shallow parallel flake scars, obviously by pressure flaking; while on the adjoining face there are series of small shallow scars, mostly due to step-flaking. Where these two flaked surfaces meet, a borer point has resulted, perhaps accidently. The material is basalt and is stained dark black and brown. Found *in situ* in the lowest cemented gravel in Nala 1 on 9-10-1960.

c7.s17.t1.2

13 No. 7, KDL. A small plano-convex core. One large flake and a small one have been removed from either side. Light yellow. Found *in situ* in the lower gravel on 8-12-1960.

c7.s17.t1.3

16 N. 6, KDL. Roughly rectangular core from which 7 to 8 flakes have been removed by direct percussion method. The flaking is from the edge. Since the material is fine glassy, [Figure: LEGEND TIDAL SWAMPS ALLUVIUM RHYOLITE TRACHYTE AND STRATIFIED ASHES INTERTRAPPEANS BRECCIA, AGGLOMERATE OCEANITE, ANKARAMITE, MONCHIQUITE BASALT
• ANALYZED SAMPLES (TABLE I)
* REFERS TO NUMBER OF ANALYSIS SCALE 0 1 2 3 MILES]

c7.s17.t1.4

STONE AGE SITES IN RELATION TO THE GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS IN BOMBAY ISLAND

c7.s17.t1.5

Fig. 50.

c7.s17.t1.6

c7.s17.t1.7

c7.s17.t1.8

c7.s17.t1.9

c7.s17.t1.10

c7.s17.t1.11

c7.s17.t1.12

c7.s17.t1.13

c7.s17.t1.14

c7.s17.t1.15

c7.s17.t1.16

c7.s17.t1.17

Fig. 53. (1—11) Middle Palaeolithic tools from Kandivli (½).

c7.s17.t1.18

c7.s17.t1.19

c7.s17.t1.20

c7.s17.t1.21

c7.s17.t1.22

c7.s17.t1.23

c7.s17.t1.24

c7.s17.t1.25

c7.s17.t1.26

c7.s17.t1.27

Fig. 54. (12—20) Middle Palaeolithic tools from Kandivli (½).

c7.s17.t1.28

obsidian-like basalt, the scars are deep. *In situ* lower gravel, Nala 1. Found on 9-12-1960.

c7.s17.t1.29

10 No. 2, KDL. Rectangular core on a thick flake. From the upper surface a long blade-like flake has been removed. Fine mottled jasper. Found from the Middle Gravel, Nala 2, on 10-12-1960.

c7.s17.t1.30

17 No. 1, KDL. A large flat steep-sided nodule, from which two flakes have been removed. Brownish basalt, surface.

Scrapers

c7.s17.t2.1

14 No. 1, KDL. A large semi-circular scraper on a flattish piece. The underside seems to be quite natural. From the upper a large flake has been removed, which along with the thick straight sided back facilitates the handhold. The flat surface slopes steeply. Its margin has been partly retouched and partly battered. Beautiful black-white appearance. Found in *situ* lower gravel on 9-12-1960.

c7.s17.t2.2

15 No. 5, KDL. A small rectangular scraper-cum-borer on an irregular flattish piece. The margins on two sides are minutely trimmed by step-flaking to yield a scraping edge. The junction of two adjoining sides ends in a borer-point. Black-and-brownish white. *In situ* lower gravel. 9-12-1960.

c7.s17.t2.3

1 No. 15, KDL. Scraper-cum-point on a small flattish Levallois-like flake. The upper surface has two flake scars with the margin retouched. The underside having a bulb has also been trimmed so as to give a point and a scraping edge. Brownish chert. *In situ* lower gravel. 10-12-1960.

c7.s17.t2.4

18 No. 1, DSR. A side-scraper on a thick plano-convex semi-circular piece. The chord has been roughly flaked to give a scraping edge. Brownish chert. Loose from the Dahisar Nadi. 15-12-1960.

c7.s17.t2.5

12 No. 1, KDL. Scraper on an irregular flake. Only the edge is obliquely retouched. Brownish chert. From the mixed deposit overlying the cemented lower gravel in Nala 1. 8-12-1960.

c7.s17.t2.6

2 No. 18, KDL. Scraper-cum-point on a small flattish flake. Brownish chert. From the mixed deposit overlying the cemented lower gravel in Nala 1. 8-12-1960.

c7.s17.t2.7

4 No. 12, KDL. Scraper on a roundish Levallois-like flake. No trace of platform, but where there is a tiny bulb, the upper surface bears some marks of trimming. Black chert. Mixed deposit. Nala 1. 8-12-1960.

c7.s17.t2.8

9 No. 27, KDL. Hollow Scraper on a thick nodule. Deeply flaked along the margin on two surfaces. Brownish chert. Mixed deposit. Nala 1. 8-12-1960.

c7.s17.t2.9

10 No. 6, KDL. A small blade-like flake with unfacetted platform and diffused bulb. Black chert. *In situ* lower gravel. Nala 1. 10-12-1960.

c7.s17.t2.10

6 No. 18, KDL. Borer or a Point on a thick triangular piece with a thick butt. It appears that advantage was taken of a naturally pointed nodule by slightly touching its two sides to yield an effective borer. Blackish-white chert. *In situ* lower gravel. 10-12-1960.

c7.s17.t2.11

7 No. 11, KDL. Point on a thick triangular nodule with a thick butt. One side and the tip of the point retouched. Brownish chert. *In situ* lower gravel. 10-12-1960.

Cleavers (?)

c7.s17.t3.1

8 No. 1, KDL. Small cleaver-like piece on a nodule with a thick untrimmed butt. The junction of the two sloping surfaces forming the edge, while the sides are crudely chipped. Greenish chert. *In situ* lower gravel. 10-12-1960.

c7.s17.t3.2

8 No. 16, KDL. Small cleaver with a pointed flaked butt. Sides crudely flaked. Junction of the sloping surfaces—of which the upper may be natural—forms the edge. Rolled, *in situ* upper gravel. Nala 2. 10-12-1960.

c7.s17.t3.3

This small cleaver reminds us of a similar cleaver from the Gangapur Dam section found in 1957 at Nasik.⁷⁰ 5 No. 14, KDL. A burin-like tool on an irregular longish piece. The chisel-like edge has one side probably vertically flaked.

c7.s17.t3.4

⁷⁰ SANKALIA, H. D. The Godavari Palaeolithic Industry, p. Here Fig. 30, 5.

c7.s17.t3.5

20 No. 5, KDL. A fine core flake, the underside of which also seems to be worked. Glassy basalt. Upper gravel. Nala 2.

c7.s17.t3.6

11 No. 7, KDL. A burin-like tool on a thick nodule. The undersurface is naturally flat. The two sides on one end meet in a chisel-like broad edge. Mottled jasper. Middle Gravel. Nala 2. 10-12-1960.

c7.s17.t3.7

From the analysis of the tool collections from the different horizons as well as a description of the important types, it will be seen that the same tools which occur in the lowest layer of cemented gravel in both the Nalas occur in what we have called "mixed deposit" in Nala 1 and "middle and upper gravel" in Nala 2. While the old or previous types may be found in the succeeding deposits, some new types-indicating a new industry or culture - should be there. This is either absent or we have so far not found what is called the "Upper Palaeolithic blade element". Likewise the true Lower Palaeolithic complex of handaxes and cleavers is also missing. No doubt, there are a couple of cleaver-like pieces, one from the lowest gravel. But these are not indeed sufficient to change the nature of the industry which mainly seems to comprise scrapers, points and borers.

c7.s17.t3.8

The burin-like pieces were also examined by Professor ZEUNER. While the typical burin-facet intentionally given to a chisel-edge does not seem to be in evidence, still it is possible that such chisel-ended pieces were naturally available in the locality owing to the peculiar nature of the rock and probably used by man, though for the latter view, we have very little proof either.

c7.s17.t3.9

These tools may be compared with those illustrated by TODD. Our collection also includes crude handaxe-like specimens, and two small cleavers. But the rest are points, borers and scrapers. These are all made in the form and technique visible in what is now called Series II or Middle Palaeolithic (or Stone age) tools from Maharashtra, Karnatak, Andhra, Orissa, Central Provinces, Central India and Western Rajputana.

c7.s17.t3.10

Whether this Stone Age Culture was followed by the one in which long blades and burins and gravers played a prominent part or was immediately succeeded by one in which microliths come into the picture, cannot be said for certain. For our collection of burins from the "mixed deposit" is of doubtful nature. Probably a further intensive search, which is planned, may help elucidate the problem.

c7.s17.t3.11

Gujarat

c7.s17.t3.12

Northern and Central Gujarat which have given abundant evidence of the Early Palaeolithic and Microlithic cultures have so far not yielded tools of the Middle Palaeolithic. The main reason is that the region has not been examined from this point of view. The Sabarmati and its tributaries call for a fresh exploration. Twenty years ago this aspect of the Stone Age cultures was not known. Consequently, tools if found, were likely to be mixed up with microliths.

c7.s17.t3.13

Recently Shri SOUNDARA RAJAN⁸⁰ discovered a few tools in a fine gravel deposit lying as a small terrace against or under the thick deposits of loamy silt, which are such a characteristic feature of Gujarat, on the Mohor River. If this gravel really underlies silt, then it is of some antiquity. That probably it is so, is suggested by the borings at Lunej, near Cambay, where an earlier - Middle Pleistocene - and later gravel strata intercalated by silts and sands are reported. Thus the stratigraphical position of the tools, if found *in situ*, is not uncertain.

c7.s17.t3.14

⁸⁰ SOUNDARA RAJAN, K. V., "Middle Stone Age Sites from Kaira District in Gujarat", Journal, Oriental Institute, Baroda, Vol. X, 1960, pp. 106-79.

c7.s17.t3.15

However among the 30 tools of chert and agate there are a few fluted cores, which normally characterize the later microlithic industry. Thus a shadow is cast on the assemblage. It may be a mixed lot, and the patches of gravel, as SOUNDARA RAJAN himself says, possibly contaminated by later re-wash.

Prehistory and Protohistory in India and Pakistan c7.s17: Bombay Area

Contents

Bombay Area

Cores

Scrapers

Cleavers (?)

Linked texts (3)