Hunsgi valley
Also called: Hunsgi-Baichbal valley · Topic: Prehistory: Human Origins and Stone Age Cultures · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Hunsgi valley, also called the Hunsgi–Baichbal valley, is in north Karnataka. It lies in present-day Yadgir district, which was once part of Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) district. It has many Acheulian sites of the Lower Palaeolithic (early Old Stone Age), where people made handaxes and cleavers. Many tools were shaped from local limestone. Some sites were workshops, where tools were made on the spot from nearby rock.
Example
Isampur, a site in the Hunsgi valley dated to c. 1.2 million years ago, yielded handaxes, cleavers, choppers and scrapers along with animal fossils.
Don't confuse with
- Attirampakkam: Attirampakkam is in Tamil Nadu, is older (c. 1.5–1.7 million years ago) and is known for quartzite tools. Hunsgi is in Karnataka and is known for limestone tools.
Related concepts
- Palaeolithic age
- Acheulian tradition
- Handaxe
- Attirampakkam
- Isampur
- Pallavaram
- Didwana
- Soanian culture
- Hathnora
- Belan valley