Uncovering Patterns of Acheulian Lithic Technology and Hominin Adaptation at Teela Kalan, Shivpuri District, Madhya Pradesh, India

Priyanka Kumari

In the absence of hominin fossils in the Indian prehistoric context, stone tools serve as an alternative means of understanding hominin behavioural adaptations. Acheulian Large Cutting Tools (LCTs) on the Indian subcontinent provide crucial insights into prehistoric hominins, their behaviour, cognitive development, and the technological requirements for human survival. In this context, Acheulian artefacts from the foothills of Teela Kalan Hill, Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, India, have been examined. The site is located at the confluence of the Sindh River, a tributary of the Yamuna River. Fluvial activity appears to have had minimal impact on the aeolian deposits; in contrast, agricultural practices have caused sedimentary erosion, exposing the artefacts and resulting in considerable surface weathering and abrasion. Despite this, the artefacts preserve morphological features that allow for reliable technological identification. This paper aims to examine the lithic artefacts and their contextual data to identify the techniques and strategies employed by early humans to adapt to their environment, which may reflect region-specific behaviours. The study highlights the significance of lithic analysis in understanding the subsistence practices and cultural adaptations of early humans from a regional perspective within the South Asian context.