STONE-AGE CULTURES OF MAYURBHANJ DISTRICT, ORISSA

Extensive exploration in the Baripada sadar, Bisoi, Rairangpur and Kar anjia Tehsils, spanning two seasons in 1994 and 1995, resulted in the discovery of 4 lower paleolithic sites and 9 Mesolithic sites in the M ayurbhanj district, Orissa. Many of these sites are primary in nature and have preserved habitational deposits. Handaxes and choppers made o f quartzite are the main components of the lower palaeolithic industry . In Mesolithic sites, in addition to microlithic artifacts, the most noteworthy feature of the assamblage is the common occurrence of heavy -duty implements, the raw materials selected for these are different f rom those used for manufacturing microliths. A summary effort is being made by the authors at integrating and interpreting the data recovere d from the sites.