An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c46.173

v2.c46.173

The stone tools fall into two categories: ground and pecked tools, and microliths. The former can be further classified into edge and non-edge tools. Igneous and metamorphic rocks like diorite, dolerite and basalt were used in the manufacture of edge tools. Typologically they are axes, chisels, chopping tools, wedges, points, etc. Most of these are pecked and ground and exhibit use marks. Instances of re-used axes are not wanting. Non-edge tools comprising hammers, pounders, axe-hammers, fabricators, dabbers, anvils, etc., are of coarse-grained rocks like granitic gneiss. The microliths are fashioned out of siliceous stones, chert being the major raw material and opal being rare. The repertoire comprise blades—parallel-sided, blunted-backed, serrated etc.,—lunates, trapezes, triangles, scrapers, flakes, flakes with crested-guiding ridge [16.5.2], borers, points and fluted cores. Marks of use and retouch are noticed on the artefacts.