Pre-historic tools found in Mumbai

In what comes as a big news, pre-historic tools have been discovered near the Tulsi lake inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai. Pre-historic tools were found near the Tulsi lake besides Khindipada, on the boundary where Mulund and Bhandup meet — and this place gives direct access from the lake to the Kanheri caves, which is an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected site. “It was an important discovery and would help in unravelling further, the history of Mumbai,” said journalist-archaeologist Vinayak Parab, who led the team of archaeologists and students.

The research was undertaken by the Centre for Extra Mural Studies (CEMS) of University of Mumbai, Sathaye College and INSTUCEN Trust. “We are proud of the finding,” said Mugdha Karnik, the Director of CEMS.

The team members include Nishigandha Usapkar, Snehal Pawar, Mruga Banaye and Leanne Thothiyil. This was the team that was exploring the Tulsi lake site. The team also presented a paper at the 3rd Exploration of Maharashtra workshop in which among others, Dr A P Jamkhedkar, former Director of Maharashtra State Archaeology and Museums and President of Deccan College, Pune were also present.

Elaborating further on the finer aspects of the project, Parab said that while microliths were found near Tulsi lake, larger size stone tools were found at Khindipada. “We feel these are 30,000 years old,” he said, adding that the dating was done in presence of Dr Kurush Dalal, Assistant Professor, Archaeology, CEMS.

As far as the Kanheri caves are concerned, these are rock cut monuments. These caves date from the first century BCE to the 10th century CE. Over 100 caves have been carved from the basalt.  “Kanheri has a regular approach from the Borivli in western suburbs. This discovery was possible when we approached Kanheri from the eastern suburbs of Bhandup and then through Vihar lake and Tulsi lake,” he said, adding: “This is perhaps for the first time archaeologists took this route....may be in olden days and pre-historic times this was the approach.”