An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c14.s2.7

v1.c14.s2.7

Explorations by the writer in the Luni and its tributaries in Pali. Dts Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalor and Sirohi from 1958 to 1961 produced evidence of two Stone Age cultures in s. part of the desert. The earlier phase was represented by diminutive and well-made handaxes, cleavers, scrapers, points, borers, knives and Levallois flakes and cores. These tools made of chert, jasper, agate, silicified wood and rhyolite occurred in the cemented sandy gravel of the rivers and on limestone outcrops between Sojat and Bilara. The second and younger industry was represented by microliths which occurred on top of sand-dunes and on limestone outcrops. The climatic sequence suggested by these deposits was: (a) rainfall higher than at present, more water in the rivers, sluggish streams and/or ponded situations, forming a clayey deposit; (b) sharp disconformity between the clay and overlying gravel, suggesting a period of erosion; (c) increased rainfall, more water in the rivers, formation of coarse sandy gravel, Middle Palaeolithic [4.3] man present; (d) reduced rainfall, graded stream beds, formation of silt; (e) highly arid conditions, formations of sand-dunes; and (f) amelioration in climate, microlithic [4.5] man appears.