History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c10.s1.t2.4

v1.c10.s1.t2.4

In correspondence with this, the by-product flakes, which come out during the process of flaking the part of the tool, in case of the direct percussion stone hammer technique, retain mostly natural stone or cortexed surface on the upper part (dorsal) and also have similar unprepared striking platform (Fig.1). Besides these completely unprepared flakes, in the flaking debris of Pebble tools some partly or fully flaked dorsal surfaced and striking platformed flakes could also be found. Such by-product flakes are usually the result of reflaking of the same edge or surface in more than one series, or flaking at very close intervals as to cover the part of the earlier flaked surface (Fig.3). The direct percussion stone hammer technique in India was widely practiced during the Lower Palaeolithic period. The Pebble tool complex of the north and the north-western part of this sub-continent was made primarily by this technique (Jayaswal, 1982, p. 45). Not only chopper and chopping tools of such sites as Guler (Lal, 1956), Bilaspur (IAR : 1962-63, pp.37- 38) in Beas and Banganga valleys and Lahchura in Uttar Pradesh (Pant, 1982, pp. 39-44) are characterized by deep, crude flaking, but also many of the flakes which are found in association with these tools have cortexed dorsal and unprepared striking platforms (Jayaswal, 1978, pp. 89-95, Jayaswal, 1982, pp. 45-63). But it may be noted that use of this technique in India appears to be much later in date than the African evidence.