Stone Tool Workshop

The Stone Tool Workshop consisted of making simple to mildly complex stone-tools from Prehistoric times. Several different techniques of making these tools using hammer stones and different raw materials were demonstrated. Students then made their own tools under the supervision of Dr. Kumar Akhilesh and Dr. Shanti Pappu.

About them

Kumar Akhilesh is currently Co-Director of the research project on prehistory and palaeoenvironments at Attirampakkam and is the Director of the research project on investigating prehistoric sites in Tamil Nadu. Akhilesh is interested in prehistory, experimental archaeology (lithic knapping), satellite remote sensing and GIS. His special interests are in experimental archaeology (reconstructing ancient technology) for which he completed advanced courses in lithic technology from France, under the guidance of Prof. P-J.Texier, J.Pelegrin and other experts in the field. His area of expertise is stone tool technology, and he is currently involved in the analysis of artefacts from Attirampakkam and other sites in Tamil Nadu. He is director of the program on experimental replication of the technologies used by Acheulian and Middle Palaeolithic hominins at Attirampakkam. He is also involved in a project on applications of satellite remote sensing and GIS in archaeology for purposes of research and heritage management. He was responsible for developing thematic maps using satellite remote sensing and field investigation, amongst other studies, under an ISRO-GBP project in collaboration with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)-RRSC (Regional Centre for Remote Sensing)-South. He has numerous research papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals to his credit, including Science and Nature and has presented his work in conferences in India and abroad. He is on the editorial board ofthe international peer-reviewed journal Archaeological Discovery.

Shanti Pappu is interested in prehistory, palaeoenvironments, ethnoarchaeology, history of archaeology and in public archaeology, especially for children and teachers. She is a former Professor of Prehistory at the Deccan College Postgraduate & Research Institute. She completed her M.A degree and doctorate from the Deccan College Post-graduate and Research Institute, Pune (1996), under Prof. K.Paddayya, on the prehistoric archaeology of Tamil Nadu, and was subsequently a Homi Bhabha Fellow. She was a Charles Wallace Fellow at the Ancient India and Iran Trust, U.K. She has obtained several awards including the Prof. H.D. Sankalia gold medal from the Deccan College, and Young Scientist award from the Earthwatch Institute, the USA amongst others. She holds a law degree with a dissertation on cultural heritage laws of India and is a registered advocate. She has published two books, with numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, including Science, and Nature as also one book for children on archaeology and several popular articles. She is currently director of the research project on prehistory and palaeoenvironments in Tamil Nadu, including excavations at thesite of Attirampakkam. She is affiliated with several academic bodies and societies, and is Member, Global Library Committee, World Archaeology Congress, the Joint-Secretary of the Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies and former joint editor of the journal Man and Environment. She is on the Board of Management of theChildren’s Garden School Society and affiliated schools in Chennai (Ellen Sharma Memorial Matriculation & Higher Secondary School, Sholinganallore) and is involved in educational programs for children and teachers.

The poster for the Workshop