Hukay

Microlithic Sites of Mandla 81complex than what could be generally seen. Contemporary ethnologicalcondition in Mandla substantiates a picture of composite (i.e. a commoncultural/ethnic group using diverse technology/economic pursuitsexploring diverse ecological resources across local topographic and/orseasonal variations) as well as differential techno-economic adaptations atdifferent micro-regional contexts (i.e. either different sections/sub-groupsof a common cultural/ethnic group or completely separate groups usingcompletely separate sets of technology/economic pursuits as part of theiradaptation to the specific local ecological setting in which they are found).In this article, a critical attention has been drawn to the archaeologicalpractice of generalisation of cultural chronology and also to the reliabilityand limitation of typo-technological method.MandlaMandla (22 0 12ʹ to 23 0 22ʹ N, 79 0 57ʹ to 81 0 45ʹ E) is one of the districts(local administrative division) constituting the Central Indian State ofMadhya Pradesh. The district remained devoid of road communicationuntil early 19 th century (Rudman 1912). At present, forest comprises morethan half of the area, distributed across four forest-ranges viz. Banjar(South), Jagmondal (East), Motinala (further East of Jagmondal) andMandla (North). Tropical moist deciduous forest with two sub-types viz.eastern Sal or Sakhu (Shorea robusta) and the western mixed with Teak(Tectona grandis) divides the district into two major forest types. The riverNarmada flows down from the northeast corner, winding around theMandla town, and then flows towards Jabalpur on the North West. One ofits major tributaries, Banjar, cuts its course through the adjoining districtBalaghat on the south, and joins Narmada near the town of Mandla.The soil of lateritic sandy loam type variably mixed up with smallpebbles (kankars), locally called barrah, residual on plateaus/tablelands andon gentle hill slops of foothills is suitable for minor-millet [kodo and kutki(Paspalum scrobiculatum)] and maize cultivation. The rugged plateaus ofthe northern and eastern Mandla are mainly of this type; with sufficientrainfall, barrah is quite productive for these crops. Rice and wheat aregrown on the alluvial black cotton soil. Although found in all directions ofthe low lying pockets of the Narmada and its tributaries, the black cottonsoil constitutes the large tracts of flat land on the south and southwest ofMandla town. This southern paddy and wheat growing areas are calledhavelli. A good number of huge village settlements are found in thispocket. In early 20 th century some 200 closely clustered villages were