Gargi Chatterjee 2017, in Rethinking the Past: A Tribute to Professor V.N. Misra (S.G. Deo, Andre Baptista and Jayendra Joglekar Eds.), pp. 40-49, Pune. ISPQS: www.manandenvironment.org ISBN: 978-81-908330-6-6 Introduction Typological study of the lithic assemblages in India has been chosen by several Pre- historians since Foote’s typological work (Foote 1914; 1916). Contributions of eminent scholars like Paterson (De Terra and Paterson 1939), Sankalia (Sankalia 1964), Jayaswal (Jayaswal 1978, 1979, 1982) built a strong foundation for Stone Age techno-typological studies in India. Previous studies suggest the classiication and nomenclature of stone tools on the basis of their shapes, the medium on which they were made, and sometimes on the basis of preparation technique However, as the stone tools represent the daily activities of Early Man it is now pertinent to classify these tools on the basis of their functions to understand primitive life. Considering the above discussed problem, the present essay attempts to classify the major Acheulian tools in the light of their functions. The tools picked up for the study are: Handaxe, Cleaver, Chopper & Chopping Tool, and Scraper, which are the representative types of the Indian Acheulian phase. This work is based on the collections of twelve excavated Acheulian sites in India namely: Didwana, Paisra, Sihawal-II, Nakjharkhurd, Adamgarh, Bhimbetka, Durkadi Nala, Chirki, Hunsgi, Anagawadi, Site-128 (Nagarjunakonda), Site-SXIII (Nagarjunakonda) (see Table 6). The Acheulian collection of Paisra has been handled, studied, and measured during work. The tools of the other eleven sites have been studied and measured through illustrations, line drawings, and descriptions relected in reports, monographs or in other related articles. On the very onset of this work, the probable FUNCTION BASED CLASSIFICATION OF THE ACHEULIAN TOOLS IN INDIAN CONTEXT Gargi Chatterjee Department of A.H.C. and Archaeology, University of Allahabad gargichatterjee09@gmail.com Abstract Typological study of the lithic assemblages in India has been carried out by several Pre-historians since Robert Bruce Foote’s typological work. To understand the functional aspect of Acheulian tools, the present work is focused on mainly on the bifaces, choppers and scrapers. The working edges of these tools are considered to recognize their probable functions. Based on this, an attempt is made to prepare function-based classiication of these major Acheulian tools. major actions of the Acheulian population will be discussed, following which the ive aforesaid tools will be classiied in the light of these major actions, which denote their functions. The primitive subsistence as a whole stands for man’s more or less absolute dependence on nature for both food and shelter. Hunting-gathering was a means of food procurement for prehistoric man who was more or less dependent on nature directly for shelter (rock-shelter, tree-shade or tree-branch, open air). Ecologically adverse conditions prompted at times the making of huts as is revealed by the excavated remains at Paisra, India and Terra-Amata, France. Thus the major activities of Stone Age man, particularly may be narrowed down to hunting, gathering, and shelter making (Table 1). Table 1: The Major Actions done by Acheulian Population Hunting chase and kill animal/ishing Skinning/scaling cutting and chopping the meat breaking bones to extract marrow Gathering (plant food) digging to gather tuber roots breaking nuts Hut making digging (deep) to make post-holes cutting branches to prepare posts The presumed stages of hunting involve killing of animals by chasing and/or trapping- and piecing of the kill for food, then to acquire edible parts of the kill multiple operations like – skinning, chopping of meat (butchery), and breaking joints of bones and long bones to extract marrow appear logical. Similarly, to collect edible vegetable-digging roots and