Rubbing grooves formed
by the smoothing of Neolithic hand axes on rock about 8,000 years ago have been
found for the first time in southern Tamil Nadu near Srivilliputhur,
Virudhunagar district.
Based on the information given by Noorsakipuram
S. Sivakumar, that there were rubbing grooves in the rock, V.
Rajaguru, the Founder of the Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation, conducted
an exploration along with him in the area. They said,
The Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department has stated that
the Neolithic Age dates from 7000 BC to 4000 BC based on scientific dating of
archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu. It was during the Neolithic Age that humans
transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled one, and agriculture,
pottery, and permanent settlements emerged.
There are 4 rubbing grooves on the rock near the forest
check post at Shenbagathope. These were formed when
Neolithic hand axes were rubbed and smoothed. Their dimensions are 40, 46, 48,
20 cm in length, 3.5, 3, 3, 1 cm in depth. All four are the same size, 10 cm in
width. 3 grooves are straight and one is diagonal at its top. The straight
grooves would have been used to rub the stone tools smooth, and the small
diagonal groove would have been used to sharpen them.
These are shallow compared to similar rubbing grooves in
northern Tamil Nadu. The rubbing grooves
are mostly found near water bodies. There is a trace of a stream here.
The Archaeological Survey of India has found traces of
Neolithic civilization in southern Tamil Nadu at T.Kallupatti. We have found
Neolithic tools at Viluppanur near Srivilliputhur, Bogalur and Kulapatham in
Ramanathapuram district, and grinding pits used during the Neolithic period in
the rocks under Gopalsamy Hill in Madurai district.
The discovered rubbing grooves are about 8000 years old.
They are strong evidence of the existence of Neolithic civilization in southern
Tamil Nadu. This is the first time that Neolithic rubbing grooves have been
found in southern Tamil Nadu. They spoke.
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