PALAEOLITHIC TOOL DISCOVERY IN TELANGANA
Why in the News?
- Recent floods in Telangana’s Mulugu district revealed Palaeolithic quartzite tools.
- Streambed drying after the flood exposed hand axes in Gurrevula and Bhupatipuram villages.
Source: Blink Learning
Insights into Palaeolithic Habitations:
- Discovery challenges previous understanding of human settlements in Telangana and central India.
- Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers used similar tools worldwide for woodcutting and hunting.
About Palaeolithic Age:
1. Lower Palaeolithic Age
- Timeline Divisions: Phases are 600,000-150,000 BC, 150,000-35,000 BC, and 35,000-10,000 BC.
- Tool Traditions: Soanian and Acheulian traditions with tools like hand axes and cleavers.
- Locations: Sites in Punjab, Kashmir, Thar desert, UP, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Bhimbetka.
2. Middle Palaeolithic Age
- Flake Tool Industry: Based on flakes with regional variations.
- Distribution: Found along Narmada river and the Belan valley.
3. Upper Palaeolithic Age
- Tech Advances: Introduces parallel-sided blades, burins, and scrapers.
- Locations: Blades and burins found in AP, Karnataka, Maharashtra, MP, UP, Jharkhand, and Gujarat.
- Human Shelters: Caves at Bhimbetka used in Upper Palaeolithic phase.