History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c10.s1.t7.1

v1.c10.s1.t7.1

Careful and controlled flaking was done to modify the edge and tip of artifacts throughout the Palaeolithic period, which is referred to as retouching. This effort was particularly needed to give shape, increase sharpness of the edge and even blunting the edge of a flake or a blade. Various types of scrapers and pointed implements were made by retouching. Retouching during the Palaeolithic period was performed by direct percussion technique and by using both stone hammer or soft and cylindrical hammer. These are categorized within two types e.g., the low angle retouch and the high angle retouch. Low angle retouching was done primarily during the Lower and the Middle Palaeolithic phases when edge of flake needed to be sharpened. The angle of the retouched portion in this case range around 60° - 70°. But, with the prevalence of blade technology when both the edges were sharp there was a need to blunt one of the edges for hafting purposes. It was due to this requirement that retouching at high angle (more than 70° - 75°) had to be initiated. During Upper Paleolithic various forms of backed blades or knives were made by high angle retouching or blunting. In India though both the types of retouchings were done, the amount of modification of the form of edges were not a very general practice. With the result, our Palaeolithic tool-kits appear mediocre in comparison to the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic implement collections of Europe.