Schoolkids help unearth Stone Age tools

SHIMOGA: Schoolchildren have helped unearth a large number of implements belonging to the Stone Age era in Thirthahalli taluk in Shimoga district. The department of archeology has taken note of the findings that date back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. Also, people of the taluk have now asked for a museum to house these rare objects.
As part of a research study, the students of the government high school of Aralasurali village collected rare stone tools that were used for hunting and other purposes some 2,000 years ago by inhabitants near the Sharavathi river.The tools were unearthed during digging and also collected from people in the area who were in possession of some implements.
Guided by their history teacher and a researcher LS Raghavendra along with secretary of the state history academy G K Devaraja Swamy, the students scoured the area and came up with these finds. Encouraged, they went door to door asking people in the vicinity to hand over the rare stone weapons in their possession and thus the collection grew.
The implements made of hard granite stones are in various shapes - there's a cone-shaped tool primarily used for hunting; a ring-shaped tool used as a hammer; a finely chiseled round stone used for grinding and to scare away wild animals.
According to historians, the area where Sharavathi river originates at Ambutheertha region was once thick, rocky and surrounded by forests. It was believed to be a safe habitat for the aged. Several stone inscriptions found in the area covering a radius of 40 km point to human habitation over 2,000 years ago. According to state history academy officials, the findings in Thirthahalli taluk would be published in 'Karnataka Itihasa Darshana". The state department of archaeology will take up further study.