Mesolithic Hunter-Gatherers of Keonjhar District, Orissa, India

An extensive archaeological exploration between 1983 and 1989, spanning six seasons, resulted in the discovery of 58 Mesolithic sites in Keonjhar District, Orissa, India. In addition to microlithic artifacts, the most noteworthy feature of these assemblages is the common occurrence of heavy-duty implements; the raw materials selected for these are different from those used for manufacturing microliths. The category of heavy-duty tools has been given a low priority in Indian Mesolithic studies. This paper attempts to account for the heavy-duty tool component in functional-ecological terms. KEYWORDS: Keonjhar, India, South Asia, Mesolithic, heavy-duty implements, microliths