Pre-Historic Cultural Sequence in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh
By D. Mercy Ratna Rani, P. C. Venkatasubbaiah
Summary
The pre-historic cultural sequence in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh spans the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods, characterized by distinct tool technologies and adaptation to diverse ecosystems. The Paleolithic period (500,000–5,000 BP) is divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper phases. The Lower Paleolithic (500,000–55,000 BP) features pebble tools and Acheulian hand axes, cleavers, and scrapers made on quartzite, often found in red soil horizons. The Middle Paleolithic (55,000–30,000 BP) emphasizes flake tools, with techniques like Levallois, and shows varied settlement patterns, including base and work camps. The Upper Paleolithic (30,000–8,000 BP) introduces blade and burin industries, utilizing materials like quartzite, chert, and agate, with sites like Rallakalva and Gunjana river systems yielding primary deposits. The Mesolithic period (20,000–5,000 BP), a transitional phase to Neolithic, features microliths and red ochre paintings, associated with hunting-gathering economies. Key sites include Anjanadri, Battalavallam, Gollapalli, and Komatigunta, which have yielded stratified tools and artifacts. Research by scholars like Murty, Banerjee, and others has documented nearly 80 sites, highlighting the region’s cultural progression from Lower Paleolithic Acheulian tools to Mesolithic microliths, reflecting adaptability to geological and ecological settings.
Conclusion
The study of pre-historic cultural sequences in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh reveals a rich and varied technological evolution, spanning from the Lower Paleolithic to the Mesolithic periods. The research highlights the dominance of quartzite as the primary raw material across these cultures, with distinct tool-making techniques such as Acheulian hand axes, flake tools, and microliths, reflecting adaptations to different ecological zones. The spatial distribution of sites across uplands, plains, and riverine ecosystems underscores the adaptability of prehistoric communities to diverse environments. The presence of both primary and secondary contexts suggests prolonged human occupation and resource utilization. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of technological progression and settlement patterns in the region, emphasizing the continuity and innovation in prehistoric cultural practices. The findings also provide a foundation for further interdisciplinary studies to explore the socio-economic and environmental factors influencing these ancient communities.