An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s2.15

v1.c9.s2.15

The Indian handaxes compare very well with all European types, and the same is true of their African counterparts. The cleaver, though rare in Europe, is extremely common in Africa. Since the raw material used in Africa and India is the same the resulting tools also show close correspondence; in fact one could easily replace every one from the Olduwai Gorge or s. African collections. Thus Africa only remains in the field if a foreign origin or contact is to be sought for the Indian Lower Palaeolithic cultures, particularly so as India is geographically nearer Africa. In Africa and Olduwan pebble tools are undoubtedly of great antiquity and its handaxe-cleaver group should be fairly old. As such one may postulate a slow diffusion to India from Africa. Alternatively the Indian tools which show advanced forms may have had an independent origin and were slightly later than those of Africa.