The Personality of India: Pre- and Proto-historic Foundation of India and Pakistan c13.s3.t1.12

c13.s3.t1.12

This is also borne out by the typology of the microliths and other stone tools. The most conspicuous feature of this industry is the complete absence of any heavy tool, and at best, it can be described as a crude geometric microlithic industry. Only one perforated mace-head was found during this whole period. A statistical analysis of the material from the latest excavation by the writer (1954) showed that 87.4 per cent of the total microliths lay below the buried soil. The most common tool type among the microliths is the lunate or the crescent. The other types represented are—triangle, trapeze, side and end scrapers and core scrapers (Fig. 19). From the functional or utilitarian point of view the most important type recognized by Zeuner is the "asymmetrical point", in which a sharp point is obtained by obliquely backing one of the sides of a thick flake with a mid-rib. In view of the absence of the arrow head in the Indian lithic industries, these may be regarded as barbs and points or arrow heads.² But the most remarkable evidence of the manufacture of microliths was brought out by Zeuner in the course of his study of the animal remains. He noticed a number of artificial pits 10 to 25 mm. across on the large shoulder blade of the rhinoceros found by Dr. Sankalia. He explains³: