Figure 6 No. 01 (E): In situ Microliths at Devri Site
Related Figures (26)
Fig. No. 01 (A): General View of Prehistoric Site Devri Fig. No. 01 (B): In situ Microliths at Devri Site Fig. No. 01 (D): In situ Microliths at Devri Site much more damaged than the artifacts made of chalcedony, chart, etc. Physical conditions of the artifacts: It is already described above that during the field exploration yr survey, the majority of the microlithic artifacts were found on the surface of the Devri site and hey were in naturally rolled conditions. The state of preservation of artifacts assessed not only is »ased on the physical condition of nature but also depends on the type of raw materials used tc nanufacture the artifacts’’”. In our analysis, it was observed that the artifacts made of quartz were Wim aan AananaanAd Lhaw Lhan aelifante muna atl ahal~annnnyw phKaet ate Table No. 02: Typological Analysis and type of Raw Material used in Artifacts at Devri site restingly, the agate used in this site was of two varieties, i.e. transparent and form oplaque, bu st of the artifacts ie. 145 out of 187 were made of transparent agate. The second most used rav erial was oplaque agate as out of 187 artifacts, 45 artifacts were made of this raw material. The morphological analysis of artifacts recovered from Devri also indicated that th nistoric habitats of this site also used quartz and Brescia as raw materials for making artifact: rly 06 and 05 artifacts respectively recovered out of 187 were made of quartz and Brescia. Shal 1e material was found in very little quantity. Only two artifacts were made of shale. It is to b 2d that the prehistoric tools recovered from the Sone river valley indicated that these types c ‘materials were used at a large scale. It can be deduced from the durability of the artifacts tha tools had hardness of 6.5 to 7 Mohs’ scale. Table No. 03: Typological Classification and Percentage of Retouched Artifacts at Devri site matrix of each microlith was also calculated and it is presented in Table-7. Table No. 04: Measured and Calculated Matrix of different Artifacts at Devri site Xesults of tool technology: The archaeological artifacts recovered from Devri, their morphologica inalysis, calculated percentage, measured and calculated matrix (length, width and thickness anc he average for each artifact) are presented in Tab »), 3 (a, b), 4(a) to 4(d); 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. It is es-1, 2, 3, 4,5,6 7 and in Figures -1(a) to 1(f); 2 (a also apparent from the earlier studies that the echnology of production of the microlithic assemblage was not a simple task. It includes differen tages i.e. selection of raw material, keeping because of quality, type, durability, availability echniques used for the preparation, medium applied in technology, etc. Therefore, it is clear from a a, i es as Features of flakes recovered from Devri are presented in Figure-3(a & b). The size of flake, completeness, and quantity of raw material used indicate the knapping capabilities of prehistoric humans during the Mesolithic period. The length of the flake varies from 09.32 to 43.4 9mm with an average length of 21.77 mm. The width of the flake is between 06.36 to 30.3 mm with an average width of 15.35 mm, while the thickness of the flake is between 1.06 to 15.05mm with an average thickness of 06.02mm (Table-4 and 7). BA Eee Me MINT e AY Pe A BARNS OEE EEE ES 3. Blade: Technologically blades were classified having a length of more than twice its widtt thereby making the ratio of length to width equal to 1:2. The length of the blade generally measure more than 05 centimeters with less than 20% dorsal cortex”. The blade tools are one of the majo tool types found in microlithic assemblages. A total of 65 blade assemblages were recovered fror archaeological site Devri, which comprise 34.75% of total lithic assemblages (Table-3 and 6), ani among these 12 are retouched. These artifacts are made from transparent agate, solitude agate, an: shale raw stones, physical features of these blades are shown in Figure- 4(a-d). Fig. No. 04(a): Types of Blades transparent agate tr material while 11 were from opaque agate and 02 were from shale stone. Matrix of the artifacts Including length, width, and thickness of the artifacts were analyzed to evaluate the ratios of the percentage of artifacts and is presented in Table-4 and 7. The minimum and maximum length of blades recovered from Devri are 13.3 and 67.08mm respectively along with the width of 05.25 and 17.49mm, while the thickness is between 01.74 to 12.62mm (Table-4 and 7). The average of all these parameters (length, width, and thickness) is 26.24, 11.64, and 05.04mm respectively. It is also evident from Table-2 that among 65 blade objects 52 were made from transparent agate tr material while 11 were from opaque agate and 02 were from shale stone. Fig. No. 04(c): Types of Blades 1. Scraper: Prehistoric archaeological scrapers are unifacial tools that have been used for hiding working and woodworking. Many lithic analysts reported that the true scrapers are specified on he basis of use-wear. Common scrapers are those that were worked on the distal ends of blades, .e. "end scrapers”. Other scrapers include the so-called "side scrapers" or reclaims, which were nade on the longest side of a flake, and the third is notched scrapers, which have a cleft on either side that may have been used to attach them to something else. Scrapers are typically formed by chipping the end of a flake of stone to create one sharp side and to keep the rest of the sides dull to acilitate grasping it. Most scrapers are either circle or blade-like in shape. ool was used in different ways like butchering tools, amulets, surgical instruments; and the mos: acceptable usage of this artifact seems to be their use as transverse projectile points with conve» sacked edge side. Only 07 crescents or Lunate were noticed in Devri (Table-3) out of 187 collectec nicrolithic artifacts, which is 04.82% of the total collected artifacts of the site (Table-6), and 05 o: hese artifacts are made from transparent agate and 02 from opaque agate (Table-2). Data presentec n Table-4 suggested that the length, width, and thickness of these artifacts range from 24.22 tc 35.8mm, 10.89 to 22.53mm, and 04.22 to 09.28mm respectively. The average of all three parameter: s 30.13, 15.67, and 07.45 respectively (Table-7) and the shapes of these tools are presented in Figure: > 7. Burin: Burin is the small chisel-like tool, the burin tools recovered from Devri are shown ir Figure-4. These types of artifacts are made on the part of flakes, blades, and cores. These tools wer« probably used for engraving wood, soft stone, and bone. Its chisel-like edge was used t manufacture grooves in bone, wood, antler shafts; which were further used for hafting microlith: to make spearheads or arrowheads and other tools. Only 05 burin objects were recovered fror Devri and it is only 03.44% of total artifacts (Table-3 and 6). Results shown in Table-2 revealed tha 02 of these artifacts were made from transparent agate, 01 from quartz,, and the rest 02 from Brescia The length, width, and thickness of the burin objects range from 34.01 to 46.68mm, 16.16 to 24.45mir mm, and 04.46 to 11.83mm respectively (Table-4). Similarly, the average a matrix of artifacts is 38.16 19.26, and 07.33mm (Table-7). Point: Point is a small microlithic tool. A characteristic feature of these artifacts is a pointed ti nade by conscious retouch on one or both lateral edges and it is prepared on micro blades bu ometimes also on small or large flakes (Figure-9). Points probably were used as spearheads o rrowheads by prehistoric humans. We have recovered 10 point objects from Devri, and the ontribute 06.89% of the total collected artifacts from the site (Table-3 and 6). The morphologice nalysis revealed that all the point artifacts are made from transparent agate raw material (Table-Z nd only one of them was retouched. The length, width, and thickness of the point objects rang rom 13.51 to 25.56mm, 06.66 to 10.13mm, and 02.37 to 04.79mm respectively (Table-4). Similarly he average the matrix of artifacts is 18.66, 09.08, and 03.53mm (Table-7). the average the matrix of artifacts is 18.66, 09.08, and 03.53mm (Table-7). 9. Debitage: Various types of lithic debris or discards or waste material produced during the process of stone tools and weapons reduction and production is known as debitage of prehistoric site. These parts are generally unidentifiable. Table-2 and 3 of our study indicated that we have recovered 13 debitage from Devri and it is 06.95 percent of the total assemblages (Table-6) collected from the site. All these lithic parts are not analyzed because they are not having any proper shape(Figure-6). Discussion and conclusion: The findings and results of the morphological, quantitative and jualitative analysis of the current study are presented in Table-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and in Figure- l(a) to 1(f); 2 (a, b), 3 (a, b), 4(a) to 4(d); 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Results revealed that the microliths reported from prehistoric site Devri significantly belong to the Microlithic culture. However, the area of the Panna region is very significant from the archaeological and geological perspectives. Our preliminary extensive exploration of the Panna district revealed the discovery of the prehistoric site, Devri. Though, earlier studies made by various researchers indicated that they have recovered Paleolithic artifacts near the surrounding region. But we have noticed through our extensive 2xploration that the systematic exploration of prehistoric sites in the Panna district has not been Jone so far, therefore, there is a huge potential to discover new prehistoric sites near the Devri region of the the Panna district. Fig. No. 10: Types of Debitage
