MULUGU: Researchers from the Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam have identified a significant Palaeolithic tool concentration in Bhupathipur village of Kannaigudem mandal in Mulugu district, indicating the presence of a large prehistoric tool manufacturing site.
The team Kondaveeti Gopivaraprasad Rao, Mohammed Naseeruddin and Ahobilam Karunakar documented 12 Palaeolithic stone tools at coordinates 18.5498°N, 80.2680°E. The tools range in size from about 3 inches to 6 inches.
Tools dated to Middle Upper Palaeolithic phase
According to the researchers, typological and technological examination suggests the artefacts date back between 1,00,000 and 40,000 years ago. The assemblage includes cleavers, cleaver handaxes, scrapers, choppers, flakes and handaxes.
Among the notable finds are biconvex handaxes, unifacial scrapers and bifacial cleavers, indicating advanced stone working techniques associated with the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic period.
Site located in Godavari upper basin
All the tools were recovered from a stream in the upper Godavari basin near the Devadula pipeline, within the western agency forest area of Bhupathipur village. The researchers said the density and variety of artefacts suggest the location functioned as a Palaeolithic tool factory.
In addition to the Palaeolithic tools, the site has yielded hundreds of Mesolithic microliths, pointing to repeated human occupation over long periods.
The researchers stressed that protecting such sites is crucial for understanding early human technology and cultural evolution in the Deccan region.