Microlithic Remains from the Deo and South Koel River Valleys in the Odisha-Jharkhand Border Region of India: A Preliminary Report

This paper presents a preliminary report on the microlithic assemblages recovered through surface explorationsin the Sankh, Deo and South Koel river situated on the Odisha-Jharkhand border. This region, located in thenorthwestern part of the state, offers information about the spatial distribution and cultural diversity of microlithictraditions in eastern India. The field investigations have identified four prehistoric sites in primary and semiprimarycontexts, yielding a variety of lithic artefacts such as core, flake, blade and bladelet, backed blades,scrapers, points, and geometric forms of microliths predominantly prepared from chert, quartz and quartzite. Theavailability of raw material along riverbanks and the presence of favourable landscapes comprising hills anduplands appear to have influenced prehistoric settlement in this area. While detailed stratigraphic and chronologicalassessments remain pending, the preliminary findings highlight the archaeological potential of the study area forreconstructing patterns of early human adaptation from the Pleistocene to the Holocene. This report documents sitelocations, artefact types, and initial interpretations, laying the groundwork for future systematic research.