Stone tools have been of great significance in the life of early humans. If it is said that without the tools of stone, the life of early human was not possible, it would be no exaggeration. The people hunted animals for food with these tools and weapons made of stone. In fact, the process of cultural development of human beings started at the time when the skill of making stone tools was developed. If we think of stone tools in a functional sense, these tools are mainly found in three parts :
(i) Oasis (Kuthar)
(ii) Gandase
(iii) Rukhani or Shalkar (cutting/sharpening) tools.
1. Oasis : It was used to crush an object. It was made by stripping the stone from the hard part of the rock.
2. Gundase : It was probably used to cut meat, they were prepared by making sharp edges on one side of the heavy stone.
3. Rukhani or Shalkar : These tools were smaller and thinner than the Oasis and Gundase, but they had more sharp edges.
There is an important fact of stone age tools that they have been found in many places of Europe, Africa and Asia.
This reveals the universal utility of stone tools.
Community Life : The community life of stone age began the later stone age. At this time, the task of collecting food items was done by the action of primitive human cooperation. Facing the circumstances he had realized that he could not live for long unless he got to meet others. It was necessary for him to be well groomed for this protection. This situation became the basis of community life. Community life was in the emergence stage and under the circumstances, it was very fragile. The size of the community depended on the quantity of fruits available in the area and the number of animals to be hunted. The community could not live in the same place for long time. With changing seasons they had to change their places with their animals. In later stone age men and women had equal status in community life. In the Neolithic period, the situation further improved the social point of view. Due to the knowledge and practice of agriculture in this period the division of labour came into existence,
Art: Stone age’s art was also in its emergence stage. The man of this age first painted figures by drawing lines on the walls of his caves. Colourful pictures are found on the inner terraces and walls in some caves. In these pictures running wild bulls, horses, bears, deer, etc. and very beautiful pictures of hunting are seen. What was the purpose of art of stone age men ? It is not entirely clear, but by developing art, human perceptions developed. The stone-age man also carved his personal items as well as carved the tools. Pictures made in many hill caves are evidence of this. Cave paintings of Bhimbetka located in Madhya Pradesh are considered to be of the stone age.
