An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s2.25

v1.c9.s2.25

The settlement or habitational pattern of the camp site of the Lower Palaeolithic people cannot be made out from the observations of the open-air factory sites or the river-valley sections containing artefacts. Basically early man used to roam about in search of food and thus had no fixed abode. A glimpse of the life of these people can, however, be had from horizontal excavations of such sites. In India such excavations have been carried out recently at the rock-shelter sites at BHIMBETKA, at CHIRKI on the Pravara and at HUNSGI on the Krishṉa. At BHIMBETKA there is evidence of the construction of a wall of boulders for partitioning the shelter during the Acheulian phase. It is also a factory site. CHIRKI is a rich factory-cum-camp site, for here within an area of 15 × 15 m more than 2000 tools were found in mint condition. Unfortunately the debris one would expect in such a workshop has been washed away as the site is on a rock surface close to the Pravara. No trace of any contrivance for windbreak is available here. At HUNSGI an ovalshaped living floor, covering an area of about 65 sq m, has yielded over 600 artefacts. It is surrounded by granite blocks on all sides, some of which must have been deliberately placed by man to facilitate the construction of hut-like structures. Most of the tools from this site are made of limestone.