Stone Age: Tool Technology and Cultural

Development
Dr Akash D Gedam, Assistant Professor, Dept. Applied Sciences and Humanities,
Yeshwantrao Chavan College of Engineering, Nagpur-441110

Email: akash_dgedam@rediffmail.com

Abstract
Since, the dawn of human evolution on this earth crust, the ape man’s civilization was spotted by
the cultural remains of prehistorical times. Archaeological studies deal with the human evolution
and reveal various stages of cultural development of man with their tool technology.

In quest of its past, especially the ancestors living in the prehistoric times – a time when the
strongest mode of communication-writing, was not known, the prehistory having all India
preview, has tried and is trying to the chain of man’s evolution with perspective totheir tool
technology from a stone using savage to missile using warrior of modern times.

Archaeologists have found some of the things hunter-gatherers made and used tools of stone,
wood and bone, of which stone tools have survived best.

Some of these stone tools were used to cut meat and bone, scrape bark and hides, chop fruit and
roots. Some may have attached to handles of bone or wood, to make spears and arrows for
hunting.

As stone tools were important, people tried to find places where good quality stone was easily
available. Places where stone was found and where human made tools are known as factory sites.

Keywords: Stone Age, Cultural, Hunter-Gather,Prehistory, Tool Technology

 Stone Age: Tool Technology and Cultural
Development

Stone Age: The starting point of human civilization is to be considered from the preliterate age
of history called prehistory.By around six million years ago, the ape family had split into two
distinct branches, the one that led to chimpanzees, and the one that led to humans. It is the period
of human history between the uses of the first stone tools by hominins about 2.5 million years
ago. About 2.4 million years ago one of the Australopithecus species gave rise to a new type of
hominid, the genus Homo. The first tool-making human, Homo habilis made simple pebble tools
from various types of rock.It’s divided into four periods: Eolithic, Paleolithic, Mesolithicand
Neolithic.The development started with tool technology.

1. Eolithic Age: A period at the beginning of the Stone Age, preceding the Pallaeolithic period and
characterized by the earliest crude stone tools. Greek ‘Eos’ means dawn and ‘lithic’ means stone. Thereis
scant evidence about the Eolithic period. In this age the chief means of survival for man was
hunting. The man of that period lived in natural rock shelter and used natural stone tools.

Tool making involves using memory, planning ahead, and working out abstract problems; it
marks the beginning of our use of culture to help us adapt to our surroundings - a uniquely
human ability. The early toolmakers probably also used some primitive form of communication
to pass on knowledge. They seem to have used their tools to cut meat and smash open bones for
marrow. They may possible have hunted animals, but it is major used sources of food.

Stone age culture in India first came to light by the path-breaking discovery of a hand-axe at
Pallavaram, near Chennai by Robert Bruce Foote in 1963. Later, extensive explorations were
carried out by various part of India.

First prehistoric tools discovered in Maharashtra (1865) by geologist Wayee in Mungivillage near the
Paithan at the bank of the Godavari River. Latter prehistoric tools fond in Papamiya-Ki-Tekri, district
Chandrapuras well as Waingangā basin in Vidarbha.

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2. Pallaeolithic period or Old Stone Age (C 500000—10000Years)

It is an ancient technological or cultural stage characterized by artificiallyproduced fire which is

used for light, heat and protection.Also, art was developed in cave, in the form of paintings and
sculptures. The Pallaeolithic period extended from 2 million years to about 12000 years
ago.Artefacts recovered from different geological deposits and explored and excavated
primary/semi-primary context sites belonging to different phases of Palaeolithic cultures, show a
remarkable techno-Palaeolithic evolution. A good number of Lower, Middle and Upper
Palaeolithic tools have been located in factory site at the Papamiya -Ki-Tekari, Chandrapur
District, Vidarbha,Maharashtra.The most significant Pallaeolithic sites dating back from
30,000BCE to 1,50,000BCE. This surface finding evidence show that the Upper Palaeolithic
industries in this site is preceded by the Middle Palaeolithic and succeeded by the Mesolithic.

For the convenience of study, it is divided into following period:

a) Lower Palaeolithic Period

b) Middle Palaeolithic Period
c) Upper Palaeolithic Period

 Lower PalaeolithicPeriod:(C 100000-40000 Years)

The lower Pallaeolithic period, also called as the early Stone Age, during the Lower
Palaeolithic, Simple pebble tools, choppers were used. Chopping was done by earliest humans.
Some of the earliest stone tools in the world are handaxes. It fits neatly into the hand, and the
pointed end would have been used for cutting plants and skins.Between about 1.8 million and
200000 years ago lived the species Homo erectus. Narmada Homo erectus skull (1,50,000 to
7,50,000 yrs.) was discovered at Hathnora in Sehoren district of the central India.

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They had more varied tools and may even have known how to use fire. Fire would have provided
a focus for kept people warm, and been used for cooking.About 200000 years ago, appearedthe
first hand-axe; it was later refined and used with other tools in the Acheulean industry. Sites-
Acheulian (France), Sohan Punjab (India).Bhimbetka: Cuppules depression on stone, which are
the man’s earliest manifestation of creativity in this period.

Tool Technology: Chopper and Chopping tool technology by Anvil or Block-on-Block Technique,

Example:scrapers, chopper, handaxe and cleaver

Human-Australopithecus and Homo-Erectus,

Cranial Capacity: 400-1000 c. c

 Middle Pallaeolithic Period:(C 40000-20000Years)

A flake-tool tradition emerged in the Middle Pallaeolithic, broadly spanned from70000-

32000years agoas exemplified by implements of the Choukoutien, Levallois and Mousterian
Industry.Nagpur having Archaeological evidence at every part, the prehistory Branch of the
Archaeological Survey of India, Nagpur has reported middle Pallaeolithic site from Nagpur
District. (IAR 2002-03: 145-148)

Site: Nevase, Patne, Ranjani, Nagardhan, Nandanvan site (Nagpur City) (Maharashtra).

Tool Technology: Flake tool technology,

Example:Scrapers, Acheulianlarge –flake Technique,

Human-Neanderthal Man,

Cranial Capacity: 1300-1600 c.c

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  Upper Pallaeolithic Period(C 35000-10000 Years)

The Upper Pallaeolithicperiod saw the emergence of more complex specialized and diverse
regional stone-tool industries. Nagpur has reported upper Pallaeolithic site from Nagpur. The two
principal forms of Palaeolithic art are small sculptures- such as the so-called Venus figurines and
various carved or shaped animal and other figures; and monumental paintings, incised designs
and reliefs in the walls of caves and rock shelters such as world heritage site Bhimbetka(MP).

Site: - Patne (Jalgaon), Nandanvan site (Nagpur City), Maharashtra.

Tool Technology: Blade and Burin tool technologyby Blade and pressure technique.

Example:points, barbed, harpoon.

Man: - Homo-Sapiens,

Cranial Capacity: 1350-1600 c. c

3. Mesolithic Period or Middle Stone Age, (C10000—4000 Years)It is an ancient technological

and cultural stage between the Palaeolithic & Neolithic periods. Mesolithic hunters, using a tool
kit of chipped and polished stone together with bone, antler and wooden tools achieved a greater
efficiency than their predecessors and were able to exploit a wider range of animal and vegetable
food sources. During the Mesolithic period, humans developed the cave paintings and
engravings, small sculptural artifacts. Such as Langhanaj (Gujarat),Kachargarh, Dist.
GondiaNagargota Tah. Chimur, District. Chandrapur (Vidarbha).

Technology:Microlithic tool technology, by Azilian, Natufian industry

Example:Harpoons, antler, triangles, trapeze and crescent/lunate,

Man: - Homo-Sapiens,

Cranial Capacity: 1350-1600 c. c

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2. Neolithic period or New Stone Age, (C5000-2100 Years) it is final stage of technological
development or cultural evolution among prehistoric humans. Since, the first discovery of
Neolithic tool in 1860 by H.P. Le. Mesurier, from Uttar Pradesh a large number of ground
polished tools comprising celt, Adzes, Shoulder celt, chisels, splayed axes, Maceheads, Muller,
pestles, grinding stones, hammer stones etc. have been collected by the prehistorians from
different parts of India.

The earliest Neolithic sites of India are Burzhom and Gufkarl (Kashmir).

The analysis of materials in the present context is entirely based upon the collection of the state
museum comprises the materials found from different parts of Maharashtra. It is characterized
bythe use of stone tools shaped by polishing & grinding, the domestication of plants or animals,
the establishment of permanent villages, and the practice of such crafts as pottery and weaving.

The most revolutionary invention of this period was wheel by which man could learn not only to
make earthen pots but also to travel and to transport goods by water. A notable discovery was of
a Neolithic celt made on schist (Adam Excavation 1987-1996)

Site: Burzahom (Kashmir Valley) Jammu and Kashmir, Kachargarh, Gondia Dist. Maharashtra.

Environmental change might have played a significant role, which can be total change in
economic structure:

1. The practice of agriculture;

2. The domestication of animals;

3. The manufacture of pottery;

4. The grinding and polishing of stone tools, instead of as formerly, shaping them nearly by
chipping.

5. Neolithic game boards: -The games are played on a board with a number of pits on rocks,
usually arranged in two or more rows,but no one really knows the rules of the games. But
archeologists do know that they were a way for socializing people through the ages.

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This period which as acted as a turning point in the history of mankind.

Technology: Polishing and Grinding tool technology,

Ex. Celt,Shoulder celt, Adze, Chisel and Muller.

Man: - Homo-Sapiens-Sapiens,

Cranial Capacity: 1300-1600 c. c

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