Early India and Pakistan to Ashoka c7.53

c7.53

On the basis of form they have been tentatively divided into three groups, each subdivided into four sub-groups. Within the narrow limits of the present summary I do not propose to discuss the individual types or possible variations in their distribution. This has been attempted in part by Subbarao, Worman and Allchin,²⁸ but except in the Bellary region little exact information is forthcoming. Here it will suffice to differentiate the two underlying techniques. Technique 1 consists of (a) the rough hammer-shaping of the stone—commonly dioritic trap or basalt—followed by (b) the further reduction of unwanted excrescences by means of a 'fabricator' (rather like a stone finger) and sometimes by pecking, and (c) a final grinding and polishing of the cutting edge and often over half or less than half of the surface of the tool. The resulting transverse section is ovoid, trapezoidal or sub-triangular. Technique 2 consists of (a) the removal of flakes from faces and sides of the core so that an implement with almost flat faces and rectangular section is produced, and (b) in general the smooth polishing, with occasional pecking, of the whole or most of the surfaces. The commonest type in Technique 1 is an axe or, rarely, adze with a bluntly pointed (sometimes rounded) butt; the most distinctive type in Technique 2 is the tanged or shouldered adze or hoe.