Clear evidence of the existence of prehistoric humans in Thanjavur region (India) has been identified in the archaeological excavations undertaken by Tamil University. The excavations carried out in the past two weeks on the Tamil University campus revealed clinching evidence on the existence of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic cultures in stratified contexts.
     University chancellor M. Rajendran, who visited the excavation site, observed that these findings by the Department of Epigraphy and Archaeology under the direction of V. Selvakumar of the department were significant and would shed new light on the way of life of prehistoric human beings. The excavations revealed two cultural phases, namely, Palaeolithic and microlithic. The Palaeolithic artefacts consisted of scrapers and flake tools. They were found in the laterite rock surface below a sterile layer that underlies the layer that produced Mesolithic artefacts and this signified the chronological gap between these two cultures.
     It is important to note that such stratigraphic evidence was found in Thanjavur region for the first time. The stratigraphic evidence suggests that the paleolithic culture could go back well over 10,000 years and efforts are on to get scientific dates. The evidence of using microlith tiny stone tools such as scrapers, triangles and points made of quartz suggest that Mesolithic people led a hunter-gatherer way of life about 10,000-3000 years ago. These people did not have the knowledge of pottery or metal implements.

Source: The Hindu (10 May 2009)