Madrasian culture

The Madrasian culture is a prehistoric archaeological culture of the Indian subcontinent, dated to the Lower Paleolithic, the earliest subdivision of the Stone Age. It belongs to the Acheulian industry, and some scholars consider the distinction between the Madrasian and the broader, regional Acheulian tradition defunct.

Discovery
The Madrasian was named for its type site of Attirampakkam (then part of the Madras Presidency, near Chennai), discovered by British archaeologist and geologist Robert Bruce Foote in 1863. The oldest tools at Attirampakkam are dating back to 1.5 million years, found by using cosmic-ray exposure dating.

Tools
The Madrasian is characterized by bifacial handaxes and cleavers but includes flake tools, microliths and other chopping tools. Most were made from quartzite, unlike Hint, which is used in Europe. Hand-axes have a pear shape or oval shape, flaking on both faces.