An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c30.396

v2.c30.396

*III. Advanced Mesolithic or Proto-Neolithic:* The artefacts from layers 3 to 1 comprise an advanced Mesolithic or Proto-Neolithic. The microliths which show a further reduction in size consist of various types of blades—parallel-sided, blunted back, pen-knife, notched and serrated-borers, micro-burins, points and arrowheads—with simple and tanged varieties,—scrapers, lunates, triangles—scalene and isosceles,—trapeze, saws and tranchets and large numbers of cores, flakes and debitage. The percentage of chalcedony and other finer materials like agate and carnelian increase to 20%. Plans of as many as 13 circular or oval huts and four hearths have been exposed. The huts lie very close to each other varying in diameter form 4·5 m to 2·5 . On the periphery of some of the huts have been noticed comparatively large stone pieces. On the floor of the huts is a concentration of microliths and stone pieces. Among the other finds lying on the floor in considerable numbers mention may be made of potsherds, fragmentary animal bones, charcoal pieces, burnt clay lumps with reed and bamboo impression, hammer-stones and anvils of different sizes and shapes having pitted and battered surface, fragments of flat querns, mullers, muller-*cum*-hammer-stones [6.19], retouchers(?), bollas or sling-balls and ring-stones. The hearths containing loose ashy soil also yield animal bone pieces, charcoal and burnt clay clods. This phase is also characterized by the emergence of friable, handmade pottery comprising ill-fired khaki-coloured ware, ochrous red ware and moulded or stamped ware. Bowls and vases of medium to small size with featureless rims are the only shapes met with in all the above wares. A few burnt clay lumps contain rice and rice husk impressions possibly a wild variety of rice.