Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

Paleolithic Tools Discovered in Telangana’s Mulugu District

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Paleolithic Age

Mains level: Read the attached story

Paleolithic

Introduction

  • Floods Uncover Historical Artifacts: The recent floods in Mulugu district, Telangana, have led to the discovery of Paleolithic quartzite tools, shedding new light on the region’s ancient human habitation.
  • Discovery by Amateur Historians: The tools were found in a dried-up stream bed by a team led by Sriramoju Haragopal, an amateur historian.

About Paleolithic Age

Details
Timeframe Approximately 2.6 million years ago to about 10,000 BCE.
Characteristics Marked by the use of stone tools by early humans. Tools were mainly hand axes, cleavers, and choppers.
Major Sites
  • Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh
  • Soan Valley in Punjab
  • Sites in Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Maharashtra
  • Narmada Valley in Central India
  • Attirampakkam in Tamil Nadu
  • Hunsgi in Karnataka
  • Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh
  • Didwana in Rajasthan
  • Belan Valley in Uttar Pradesh
Lifestyle Nomadic hunter-gatherers; relied on hunting animals and gathering plants for food.
Cultural Developments Development of basic stone tools and control of fire.
Art and Symbolism Evidence of early art found in Bhimbetka rock shelters, with paintings and engravings.
Climate and Environment Varied climatic conditions over millennia; included ice ages and warmer periods.
Human Species Mainly Homo erectus and Homo sapiens.

Details of the Discovery

  • Location of Find: The hand axes were discovered between Gurrevula and Bhupatipuram villages in Mulugu district.
  • Specific Find: Researchers found a significant stone axe measuring 15.5 cm in length, 11 cm in width, and 5.5 cm in thickness.

Context and Comparison

  • Global Significance: Similar hand axes have been discovered worldwide, indicating a common tool type used by early humans for various purposes.
  • Historical Context in India: The first discovery of a Paleolithic site in India was in 1863 at Attirampakkam near Madras (now Chennai), with bifacial hand-axes dating back to about 15 lakh years, known as the Madras Hand-Axe Industry or Madrasian Culture.

Historical Significance

  • Paleolithic Era Tools: According to paleontologists, the stone axe dates back to the Lower Paleolithic period, approximately 30 lakh years ago.
  • Tool Identification: The tools were identified based on their chipping style, material, and size, typical of Paleolithic hunter-gatherers who used heavy quartzite for large tools.

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9 months ago

Mulugu is an unexplored treasure of past.
Lots of the historical past is lying down the earth which could open up the answer to lot a many puzzled questions .
We could see the live version of the past of human evolution .
Rich in culture and diversity is this region of telangana or say specifically Deccan plateau.
Hope the administration takes this on priority and open new doors

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