Regional Variability of Lower Palaeolithic Tools within the Northern Vindhyas: With Special Reference to the Belan and Son River Valleys

Gaurav Gupta*, Amit Singh, and Varun Shukla

The northern Vindhyan region of north-central India represents a significant Lower Palaeolithic landscape situated between the Middle Ganga plains and the peninsular plateau. Despite extensive reporting of Acheulean assemblages from the Belan and Son river valleys, systematic micro- and macro-level comparative analyses remain limited. This study undertakes a technotypological and raw material–based comparison of lithic assemblages from sites located along these two river systems. At the macro level, the research examines assemblage composition, tool type frequencies, and core reduction strategies. At the micro level, it analyses raw material characteristics, flake scar patterns, cortex presence, and morphological variability in large cutting tools. Particular attention is given to identifying patterns in raw material procurement and selection, including quartzite, sandstone, and other locally available lithologies. By correlating lithic variability with geomorphological settings and riverine dynamics, the study explores the environmental determinants influencing technological organization. Preliminary observations suggest that differences in raw material availability and riverine transport systems significantly shaped tool morphology, reduction intensity, and assemblage diversity in the two valleys. Rather than representing purely chronological variation, these assemblages reflect adaptive responses to localized ecological contexts within a broader Acheulean framework. By foregrounding regional variability within the northern Vindhyas, this paper contributes to broader discussions on landscape use, mobility strategies, and technological adaptation in Lower Palaeolithic South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region.