Microblade Production and Chert Procurement at Ainchwara, Northern Marginal Ganga Plain, India

Pratik Pandey

The northern marginal Ganga Plain (MGP) of India contains a high density of prehistoric sites despite being located far from the Vindhyan ranges, where major lithic raw material sources occur. This region is comparatively poor in knappable stone, making prehistoric mobility, raw material procurement, and technological organization poorly understood. This study examines the microlithic assemblage from the Ainchwara site, which exhibits well-defined microblade chaînes opératoires. Geological surveys mapped chert outcrops and documented exposed formations in the surrounding area. Non-destructive portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis of archaeological and geological samples shows that most tools were produced using Tirohan chert sourced from Devangana Hill. The findings highlight systematic reduction strategies adapted to limited raw material availability and demonstrate the utility of pXRF for provenance studies. This study provides new insights into lithic organization in a raw material–poor landscape of the northern marginal Ganga Plain.