Hundred and fifty years back a young geologist picked up stone at Parade Ground at Pallavaram cantonment, near Chennai. That was no ordinary stone it was the first Palaeolithic tool found in India. The young geologist was Robert Bruce Foote.
The discovery by Foote put India on the world map of prehistory and research later proved the Palaeolithic population in India could be dated to 1.5 million years back. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) is organising a special programme in collaboration with Sharma Centre for Heritage Education (SCHE), Chennai and Government Museum, Chennai from December 28 and 29, 2013. The celebrations of the 150th year of discovery of first pre-historic tool found in India is dedicated to Robert Bruce Foote, he was the pioneer of establishing the concept of Palaeolithic population in the Indian subcontinent. The celebrations will be consist an interactive lecture on ‘Introduction to Prehistory’ for school and college students, demonstration of ‘Rock Art Painting’ by experts, demonstration of ‘Stone tool technology’, a ‘Mock Trench’ explaining archaeologist scientifically excavate the past and a ‘Treasure Hunt’ programme.
Along with that exhibition on the works of Robert Bruce Foote and lecture by expert on prehistory will also be organised. The programme will be very helpful to the students and scholars to learn and understand the knowledge related to pre-historic past of Humankind. The museum authorities have urged the citizens and students to participate in the programme in large number.