Prehistory and Protohistory in India and Pakistan c8.s5: Mode of Occurrence

Prehistory and Protohistory in India and Pakistan c8.s5

Language: English

Mode of Occurrence

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Hitherto microliths have been found in the following contexts:

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I Microliths with Palaeolithic-like tools. For instance in Kurnool,⁵ Kandivli⁶ and Marahna (Morhana) Pahar in Rewa.⁷

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⁵ CAMMIADE, L. A., "Pygmy Implements of the Lower Godavari," M.I., IV, 1924, and A.I., No. 6, p. 71-2.

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⁶ TODD in JRAI, Vol. LXIX, 1939, p. 267.

⁷ BROWN, J. A. in JRAI, Vol. XVIII, 1889, p. 137, and A.I., No. 6, p. 65. Here the upper layer contained microliths, but beneath it, separated by a distinct line of stratification, were much older implements, and of much larger size, formed of indurated sandstone etc.

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II Microliths with pottery, from surface.

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III Microliths from hill-sides, rock-shelters and sandy plains, as in Bombay,⁸ Central India,⁹ Northern Gujarat¹⁰ and W. Rajputana¹¹ and teris of S. India.¹²

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⁸ TODD in A.I., No. 6, 1950, pp. 1-11.

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⁹ GORDON, D. H. in A.I., No. 6, pp. 64-90 and earlier references.

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¹⁰ SANKALIA, H. D., Prehistoric Investigations, 1946 and JGRS., Vol. XVIII, 1956, pp. 275-84.

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¹¹ MISRA, op. cit., and Todd's collection from Karachi.

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¹² ZEUNER and ALLCHIN, in A.I., No. 12, 1956.

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IV Microliths with a little pottery from excavations. For example, Langhnaj,¹³ Panchmarhi.¹⁴

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¹³ SANKALIA, op. cit.

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¹⁴ HUNTER, G. R., in Nagpur University Journal, Nos. 1-2, 1935-36; and GHOSH, in I.H.Q., Vol. XXIV, 1948.

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V Microliths without any pottery from excavations.¹⁵

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¹⁵ LAL, B. B., in A.I., No. 14, 1958, pp. 4-48.

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VI Microliths with painted pottery and copper tools.¹⁶

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¹⁶ SANKALIA, H. D., and others, Excavations at Nasik and Jorwe, Excavations at Maheshwar and Navdatoli and From History to Prehistory at Nevasa, 1960 and yearly notices in I.A.R., 1953-61.

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From these six modes of occurrences we can now easily eliminate the last and to some extent the first. Excavations during the last 10 years or so and a detailed study of the tiny stone tools occurring in them has shown that these tools, though tiny, should not be called microliths. For in them parallel-sided tools preponderate. It is really a " Short Blade industry."¹⁷ Thus it is possible to distinguish between such blades and true microliths. Hence a large group, even of surface tools and their geographical occurrences can be plotted on a map and thus removed from the distribution of microliths.

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¹⁷ SANKALIA, H. D. and DEO, S. B., Excavations at Nasik and Jorwe, p. 51; and SUBBARAO, B., Excavations at Maheshwar and Navdatoli, p. 41 ff.