An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c45.460

v2.c45.460

The ASI conducted intensive explorations in 1950 under N.R. Banerjee and the writer and this resulted in the discovery of more than a dozen Microlithic sites associated with different *teri* remnants and closely or directly related to the ferruginized hard pan horizon (Krishnaswami *et al.*, 1951). This tool culture by its raw material, technique and retouch can be divided into a variety of tool facies giving an insight into the nature of the activities of its authors. The sites besides Sawyerpuram discovered during the survey are MEGNA-PURAM, NAZARETH, KOOTAMPULI, KULATTUR, KAYAMOLI, KOOTHANKULI, PUNTHANTARUVAI, MANADU, SURANGUDI and SAYALGUDI. These *teris* without any implement-bearing horizon continue along the tip of the peninsula and around the Kumari cape into without any implement-bearing horizon continue along the tip of the peninsula and around the Kumari cape into Kerala. The tools from these sites are fashioned out of a variety of silicious rocks like agate, jasper and chert, besides limpid or crystal quartz and fossil wood, the last three being the material at Sawyerpuram, and include types ranging from scrapers, borers, blades, crescents and burins to points, triangles, trapezes and transverse arrowheads. Some of the leaf-shaped points with minute pressure-flaking are also to be seen at sites in Ceylon (Aiyappan, 1945).