An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c14.s11.5

v1.c14.s11.5

In Saurashtra the miliolite rocks [9.7; 9.8.2] were formed during marine incursions. During regressions they were exposed, deflated and transported inland by wind. It is interesting to note that Middle Palaeolithic tools have been found in inset terraces cut into miliolite, thus showing that they are younger than the miliolites. Gupta, 1972, has dated one of the transgressions in this area round 30000 B.P. Oyster shell beds from the Hiran bed and Badalpur give 25000±5000 B.P. dates. On the other hand a site near Junagadh yielded Acheulian tools from below the aeolian miliolites. By extrapolation we can thus date the Middle Palaeolithic tools to less than 30000 years B.P. and the Acheulian ones to more than 30000 years B.P.