The Hindu : Neolithic tools discovered

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Neolithic tools discovered

By Our Staff Reporter

Ancient tools discovered in three villages of Vellore district.

VELLORE, MARCH 22. Neolithic tools dating back to 4000 B.C. were discovered recently by the National Service Scheme students of the Government Higher Secondary School, Alangayam, in Kavalur, Asanampattu and Nayackaneri villages, bordering the Javvadhu Hills.

According to M. Gandhi, curator of the Government Museum here, the villages, forming part of Vaniyambadi and Vellore taluks, had thick forest cover, where Neolithic people produced tools and used them for their livelihood.

Generally, one end of a Neolithic tool was pointed and the other broad with a straight or slightly convex edge. The broad side is called the cutting edge, while the pointed end was known as the butt end. This is inserted into a handle and tied with a string or cord. These tools could not be used without a handle. The surfaces were invariably ground. Thus, man discovered the principle by which the stone tools could be made more durable and reused when the edge became blunt. These stone axes were primarily used for cutting trees. The larger axes, which are like picks, must have been used for digging and as hoes in cultivation.

The 13-cm tool was picked up at Asanampattu, the 11-cm one at Kavalur and the 9-cm one from Nayackaneri. On the direction of the Director of Museums, R. Kannan, Mr. Gandhi visited Alangayam and received the tools from K. Pulandiran, postgraduate teacher of the school at Alangayam. These tools are now displayed in the Government Museum here.

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