The Personality of India: Pre- and Proto-historic Foundation of India and Pakistan c14.s1.t7.78

c14.s1.t7.78

We have also discussed the Langhnaj Microlithic Culture of the Late Stone Age and it can claim certain considerable antiquity, on account of its association with "a buried soil" marked by a wetter climatic conditions. At Langhnaj itself, we have the continuation or survival of microlithic elements. The map, (Fig. 18) shows again a widespread distribution of microliths in all the main river systems, confined to the slopes of the hills to the east of Gujarat. Similarly Foote found a number of microlithic sites in the Dhari prant of Amerli District, Saurashtra. Since we have not yet found a full-fledged Neolithic culture (and it is very unlikely in view of the factors discussed elsewhere), one has very good reasons to suspect a survival of the Late Stone Age hunting communities in Gujarat. They might have learnt pottery and even primitive agriculture from their neighbours. Fortunately rough limit of this culture is available. They were found in a gravel lens below the Proto-historic occupation.