An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s1: 6.1 Awls
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s1
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6.1 Awls
v1.c11.s1.1
Plain, notched or grooved awls with pointed working end have been in use as stitchers/borers in the Middle Palaeolithic period [4.3] and onwards. The Middle and Upper Palaeolithic [4.4.] awls/borers made on quartzite or quartz group of minerals have been found in the BELAN and Luni valleys. Mesolithic [4.5] awls have been recovered from LANGHNAJ, ADAMGARH, JABALPUR, BAGOR Chittoor and BIRBHANPUR. They are square, rectangular, or round on plan with a thick projecting point, having a deep notch at the side of the flake.
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In the Neolithic period [4.6], as is evidenced at BAGOR, ADAMGARH, BURZAHOM and CHIRAND, bone replaced stone as raw material. The shape also became oblong.
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In the Harappa [4.9] and Chalcolithic [4.14] levels at LOTHAL, KALIBANGAN, Harappa, Mohenjo-daro and NAVDATOLI copper and bronze awls used for heavier work have been found. The Harappa sites have also yielded awls of bone and ivory.
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Bone awls of the historical period have been recovered from ALLAHAPUR, HASTINĀPURA, UJJAIN, PRAKASH and BRAHMAGIRI. In late levels iron awls predominate.
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For sites see respective entries in vol. II.—R.P. SHARMA