An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s4.19

v1.c9.s4.19

*4.4.2 Vindhyan region*. The alluvial deposits of the BELAN and Seoti in Dts Allahabad and Mirzapur provide a definite chronology to the Upper Palaeolithic blade-burin tradition in India. Besides it is only here that a deposit with Upper Palaeolithic tools is dated by ¹⁴C method, the date being 19715 ± 340 B P A typical blade and burin assemblage was obtained by Sharma, (1973). from Gravel III of the Upper Gravel of the region. From the underlying and overlying layers of silt Upper Palaeolithic tools were obtained respectively in association with Middle Palaeolithic [4.3] and non-geometric microlithic [4.5] tools. Associated with the classical lithic group was discovered a bone image, regarded as a 'mother goddess' [12.6] on its typological similarity with the mother goddess images of the European Upper Palaeolithic culture complex. The Upper Palaeolithic man of the area manufactured implements on the adjoining hill slopes, where the raw material was available in the form of small chunks, and occasionally occupied the neighbouring rock-shelters. Factory sites and rock-shelters with Upper Palaeolithic deposits are reported from the Kaimur range. The main components of the BELAN group of industries are the burin, steep scraper, side scraper, backed blade and bladelet and feddermesser (cresentic backed blade). The tools are made on fine-grained siliceous stones. Investigations in the upper course of the Son (Ahmed, 1966) have brought to light remains of a blade-burin tradition, which is characterized by somewhat similar techno-typological features as are noticed in the BELAN group. However the blades of the Son basin are larger and thicker than those of the other regions. Factory sites of the Upper Palaeolithic man were noticed near Karwi, Lodhwara and Manikpur in Dt Banda (Pant, 1963-4). Made on chert these assemblages comprise blade tools, end scrapers, burins and varieties of side scrapers. Besides, a few blade-burin remains are reported from JABALPUR and MORHANA PAHAR. But the true nature of these discoveries is still to be sorted out. At BHIMBETKA in Dt Raisen a separate horizon of the black-burin assemblage was unearthed from one of the rock-shelters. The Upper Palaeolithic implementiferous deposit rests on the layer yielding scraper-points. The assemblage is characterized by the burin made on thick blade and scraper and a few other types of scraper (Sankalia, 1974).