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Write a short note on Attirampakkam.
Attirampakkam is an important archaeological site located in the Kortallayar River Basin in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It has gained significance for its rich deposits and evidence of early human occupation, making it a crucial site for understanding the prehistory of the Indian subcontinent.
The site was first excavated in the 1860s by British geologist Robert Bruce Foote, who discovered stone tools and implements dating back to the Lower Paleolithic period. However, systematic excavations began much later, in the early 21st century, under the direction of Indian archaeologist Shanti Pappu and her team from the Sharma Centre for Heritage Education.
Attirampakkam has yielded an extensive assemblage of lithic artifacts, including handaxes, cleavers, flakes, and cores, which provide valuable insights into the technological capabilities and adaptive strategies of early hominins. These stone tools are associated with the Acheulian tradition, characteristic of the Lower Paleolithic period, and demonstrate the use of bifacial shaping techniques for manufacturing tools.
One of the most significant findings at Attirampakkam is evidence of early fire use by hominins. Charred bone fragments, burnt stone artifacts, and ash layers have been uncovered at the site, suggesting the controlled use of fire for cooking, warmth, and tool production by early humans around 385,000 years ago. This discovery pushes back the earliest known evidence of fire use in South Asia, providing insights into the behavioral complexity and technological innovations of ancient human populations.
Attirampakkam's archaeological significance lies not only in its rich lithic assemblages and evidence of fire use but also in its contribution to our understanding of the peopling of South Asia and the cultural evolution of early human societies. Ongoing excavations and research at the site continue to uncover new evidence and shed light on the lifeways, adaptations, and cultural developments of ancient hominins in the Indian subcontinent.