An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s5.14

v1.c9.s5.14

Although blades had been used from an early stage of the Palaeolithic [4.2-4] they were made by percussion flaking. The technology of producing a large number of thin, strictly parallel-sided blades from a single core by pressure flaking was, however, characteristic of the Mesolithic. There is at present no reliable stratigraphical evidence to show where this new technology evolved or whether it came from outside. Another new feature of this technology was the total change in raw material in most areas. Except in parts of s. India where very fine-grained quartzite was available and used, in all other areas people switched over to chalcedony and chert for making these new tools. Quartz which does not lend itself to the production of good blades was also sometimes used, probably because of the limited availability of chert and chalcedony.