Late Acheulian Assemblage from Chicholi, Chhattisgarh, India: Implications on the Origin of Prepared Core Technology in South Asia

Mohd Zakir Khan1*, Hemant Kumar Vaishnav2, and Shimon Prakash3

The emergence of Middle Palaeolithic prepared core technology is seen as an important landmark in human evolution, which occurred during the second half of the Middle Pleistocene. This complex lithic technology is believed to have triggered significant changes in the cognitive capabilities of human populations. The origins of prepared core technologies are debated between single-origin and spread through dispersals versus in situ developments in Africa, Europe and South Asia. However, recent evidence suggests the presence of prepared core technologies in various regions of the Old World are due to behavioural change rather than biological change or dispersals. Therefore, understanding the origin of prepared core technology will provide significant insights into human behavioural evolution and cognitive changes. This paper presents the results of ongoing studies in the Hasdeo river valley, Chhattisgarh, India with special reference to the Chicholi site. The study focuses upon the typo-technology of the Late Acheulian assemblages from Chicholi to understand the elements of prepared core technology present in the assemblage. At Chicholi, Palaeolithic artefacts were identified at different localities consisting of handaxes, cleavers and prepared cores. Thus, the site provides significant insights into the emergence of prepared core technology in South Asia.