Middle Palaeolithic
Topic: Prehistory: Human Origins and Stone Age Cultures · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Middle Palaeolithic is the middle stage of the Old Stone Age (palaeo = old, lithic = stone). Its typical tools were made on flakes, which are thin pieces struck off a stone core. Common tools were scrapers, points and borers, and they were smaller and lighter than the earlier handaxes. In India it is roughly dated from a few lakh years ago (possibly c. 3.85 lakh years ago at Attirampakkam, Tamil Nadu) to c. 40,000 years ago. In Europe and Southwest Asia, flake tools of this stage are linked with Homo neanderthalensis.
Example
At Nevasa on the Pravara river in Maharashtra, archaeologist H.D. Sankalia found many flake tools. That is why the Indian Middle Palaeolithic is often called the Nevasa culture.
Don't confuse with
- Lower Palaeolithic: big core tools such as handaxes, cleavers and choppers, as found at Attirampakkam (c. 1.5–1.7 mya) and Isampur.
- Upper Palaeolithic: long, thin blades, burins (engraving tools) and the first beads and art.
Related concepts
- Palaeolithic age
- Acheulian tradition
- Handaxe
- Attirampakkam
- Isampur
- Hunsgi valley
- Pallavaram
- Didwana
- Soanian culture
- Hathnora