Bhubaneswar, Feb. 26 -- Stone tools discovered in the Ib river valley in Odisha's Sundargarh district have indicated that human habitation may have existed in the region between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago, researchers said. The findings are believed to date back to the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic periods.

The discovery was made by researchers from the history department of Government Autonomous College, Sundargarh, during a two-year field survey as reported by Times of India.

The survey was led by assistant professor Sakir Hussain along with postgraduate students. With Sundargarh already known for its pre-historic rock paintings, the team initiated a systematic archaeological exploration in the Ib valley region, focusing on Balijori ...