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The Indian Subcontinent is one of the areas occupied by hominins since Early Pleistocene times. The Lower Palaeolithic in the Indian Subcontinent is exclusively Acheulian. This Acheulian is similiar to the African Acheulian and has been labeled "Large Flake Acheulian" (LFA). The Middle Palaeolithic in the Indian Subcontinent is a poorly defined ent...
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... is also inferred from the fact that India/Sundaland is the only area with a tropical grassland ecosystem suited to hominins at this time (Heaney, 1991;Morley, 2012). The two stage dispersal of Homo erectus with Acheulian technology, first to Africa and then to Europe, is the delay in tropically adapted populations competing with already temperate adapted populations (Figure 3). It is possible that there is a hiatus in the European Palaeolithic record with Homo heidelbergensis (a descendant of Homo erectus) entering Europe with Acheulian technology only after the extinction of Homo antecessor probably due to deteriorating climatic conditions Mosquera et al., 2013). ...
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At present, Lake Chad ( ∼ 13°′N, ∼ 14°E) is a shallow freshwater lake located in the Sahel/Sahara region of central northern Africa. The lake is primarily fed by the Chari–Logone river system draining a ∼ 600000km² watershed in tropical Africa. Discharge is strongly controlled by the annual passage of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and m...
At present, Lake Chad ( ~13°0 N, ~14° E) is a shallow freshwater lake located in the Sahel/Sahara region of central northern Africa. The lake is primarily fed by the Chari-Logone river system draining a ~600 000 km2 watershed in tropical Africa. Discharge is strongly controlled by the annual passage of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and...
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... India is considered one of the earliest homelands of humans and was probably one of the most important regions on earth, where some crucial cultural evolutions of man took place (Mishra, 2014). In India, Stone Age archaeological sites are abundant, but even then, they require extraordinary geological and geomorphological circumstances for becoming exposed over time. ...
Lower Palaeolithic and Microlithic periods are considered two of the most
important phases of human’s cultural evolution. The Indian subcontinent is one
of the few places where the earliest evidence of both the Lower Palaeolithic
and Microlithic periods have been found. In this article, preliminary observations
on 28 recently discovered Lower Palaeolithic and Microlithic sites in the Dulung
River valley of the eastern part of India are described. The sites have been found
by intensive foot surveys conducted in the last two years. The Lower Palaeolithic
sites are mostly found in the ferricrete deposits of the uplands of this region,
whereas Microlithic sites are found deposited in the latosol/oxisol horizons
of the badlands of this region. Among recovered Lower Palaeolithic artefacts,
Acheulean Handaxes appear to be dominant. Recovered microliths are fewer in
number, but they are fresh in condition. The results of this study give a more clear
understanding of the distribution of the earliest human cultures in Eastern India.
... Since the inception of prehistoric studies in India in the late 1800s, over 1500 Lower Palaeolithic occurrences from different ecozones have been reported throughout the Indian Subcontinent (Chauhan, 2020), and the Acheulean is the most widespread technology observed (e.g., Paddayya, 2007;Petraglia, 2010;Mishra, 2014;Chauhan, 2020). The oldest dated evidence for Acheulean in the Indian Subcontinent comes from Attirampakkam, Tamil Nadu, with an average weighted mean of ~1.5 Ma (Pappu et al., 2011). ...
Central India represents one of the plenteous Acheulean records in the Indian Subcontinent, with over 300 occurrences of various types reported thus far. According to available chronological data, this region's antiquity of Palaeolithic occupation is tentatively dated beyond 800 ka. The central Narmada Valley, in particular, is vital as it has yielded the only known archaic hominin fossils in the entire Subcontinent and probably acted as a bio-cultural crossroads throughout the Quaternary period. This study reports the findings of field surveys in the central Narmada Valley which led to the identification of 18 new Acheulean sites. The study area's richest Acheulean sites are mostly found along the foothills of the Vindhyan range or near rocky outcrops within the valley, as parts of colluvial conglomeratic fans or in regolith contexts, while smaller assemblages and find-spots are found along the banks of the Narmada River and its tributaries within cemented and unconsolidated fluvial sediments. The present research provides brief information on the distribution pattern and technology of new Acheulean sites discovered in the study area.
... The pre-Acheulean evidence is represented by sites located in Siwalik Hills of the Subcontinent, and the earliest evidence is allegedly dated back to ∼2.6 Ma (Dennell et al., 2006;Hurcombe, 1989;Malassé et al., 2016). Acheulean is the most studied and widespread technology in the Indian Subcontinent (Paddayya, 2007;Petraglia, 2010;Mishra, 2014;Chauhan, 2020). Although the Subcontinent has yielded Acheulean evidence from thousands of localities, a large portion of it comes from surface context and thus remains undated (e.g. ...
The central Narmada valley (CNV) is well-known for yielding rich Paleolithic and fossil sites in the Indian Subcontinent. The earliest dated evidence in the CNV is at least 800 Ka old, and out of all Paleolithic technologies, Acheulean is most represented. In the absence of absolute dates, lithic technology has been provisionally used here as a criterion for defining the relative chrono-cultural affinities of the Paleolithic sites. Here, we present the assemblage from Pandado, a newly discovered Acheulean occurrence in the northern part of the valley. This site lies in close proximity to Pilikarar, known for its rich occurrence of Early Acheulean assemblages. Pandado is represented by two lithic localities, which has yielded 279 artifacts from surface and in situ stratified contexts. Typo-technological analysis and comparative data from other Indian Acheulean sites have been used. Based on the results, the data indicates that Pandado is closely associated with Early Acheulean technology.
... Noteworthy among these sites are those located in the Raisen Complex of the Barna sub-basin (Madhya Pradesh) and Narmada, Son and Bellan Valleys in Central India whereas majority of the sites have been reported from the Peninsular region like those from the Hunsgi and Baichbal Valleys (North Karnataka); Ghataprabha and Malaprabha Basins (North Karnataka); Krishna and Godavari Valleys in Upland Deccan (Maharashtra); and Kortallayar Basin (Tamil Nadu). Comprehensive literature about these sites and reviews thereof have been published by eminent prehistorians over the last two decades (Joshi 1955;Pappu 1966Pappu , 2001Deo 1991;Pappu 2007, Pappu et al. 2011Korisettar 2007Korisettar , 2012Mishra 2007, 2014, 2016Paddayya 2008, Paddayya et al. 2002, Paddayya & Deo 2017Chauhan 2009 a,b;Rajaguru et al. 2009;Gaillard et al. 2010). Since the discovery of the first palaeolith, prehistoric research garnered immense attention especially from Peninsular India. ...
The Ghataprabha basin covers an area of about 7231.15 sq. km spreading over Maharashtra and Karnataka. Numerous explorations were conducted by eminent archaeologists in this region, especially by R.S. Pappu and S.G. Deo which resulted in the discovery of 73 sites in the lower reaches of the basin yielding artefacts of the Lower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. However, in this high-potential area, neither large-scale typo-technological analyses nor re-explorations have been undertaken in the last twenty-five years. Recent investigations in the area have found the artefacts exposed out of context from the underlying colluvium layer making them stratigraphically indistinguishable. This paper aims to highlight observations made over the duration of three fieldworks and ascertain methods to understand this region's lithic technology.
... So, early occupations of India by the Acheulian man, presumed as Homo erectus on African analogy are apparent. On these, Mishra (2014) has boldly postulated that transition of Oldowan (Homo hablis) to Acheulian (Homo ergatser / Homo erectus) has not occurred in Africa but in India/ Sundaland which is the only area with a 'tropical grassland ecosystem' suited to hominins at that time (Heaney 1991, Morley 2012. She went ahead and conceived two dispersals of Homo erectus, the first to Africa, and the second to Europe with Homo heidelbergensis (a descendant of Homo erectus) that entered Europe with Acheulian technology after the extinction of Homo antecessor probably due to deteriorating climatic conditions (Falguères et al. 2010, Mosquera et al. 2013. ...
... Accompanying unidirectional production method, the Kombewa technique is still present among the assemblages in Middle Pleistocene sites. For example, in the state of Tamil Nadu (south India), large Kombewa flakes have been reported alongside other production methods such as multidirectional and bifacially flaked cores ( Pappu et al., 2004;Pappu, 2015;Mishra, 2014). Attirampakkam and Vadamadurai are also two important sites in the Kortalayar valley of Madras in south India ( Akhilesh & Pappu, 2015;Pappu, 2001;Pappu et al., 2004). ...
In this paper we present the results of surveys carried out in February 2016 along a palaeo-drainage system near the village of Bisyah. We report first on the geological prospection, which was our main goal, and then present our discovery of the only known localities in north Oman of large Kombewa flake production (>10 cm up to 20 cm). Among the scatter of artefacts, we found cores and large Kombewa flakes with two opposed bulbs of percussion, a technology that had not been known in this region until now. In spite of the local features, the typo-technological traits of the artefacts suggest that at least part of them resemble in some way the Acheulean techno-complex, but there are still many questions remaining on the age of these artefacts.
In order to determine the accumulation, contamination, and ecological risk of heavy metals like lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn), twenty-four locations were chosen for the collection of surface sediment samples over three strata of the Upper Bhima Basin (UBB). Samples were analysed for metal concentration on Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (GF-AAS). According to USEPA sediment quality requirements, sediments between the middle and upper portions of the basin were significantly polluted with Cr, Cu, and Mn but only moderately polluted with Cd and Ni. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were used to identify sources and sinks of metals. The main sources of pollution were lithogenic metals (Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn) and anthropogenically admixed elements (Pb, Cd, and Hg). Geo accumulation index (Igeo), Contamination factor (CF), and degree of contamination (Cd) disclosed the burden of Pb, Cd, and Hg near the origin of tributaries before the dam is constructed. An elevated level of Cu was recorded near the middle reach and raised the overall contamination status of the basin. Ecological risk () of Cd and Hg contributed to moderate to considerable potential ecological risk (PERI). This study attempts to record the foremost comprehensive data on heavy metals contamination status in surface sediments of UBB and potential ecological risk to the aquatic organisms and migratory birds at the Ujani wetland. As UBB serves water mainly for drinking, agriculture and fisheries; study is important to signify the impact on socio-economic aspects.
The Sonar River Valley is centrally located in Madhya Pradesh, flanked by rich Palaeolithic and fossiliferous localities in the Son and Narmada Valleys and has historically been overlooked in favour of the latter rivers, that tend to preserve well stratified Quaternary formations along varying portions of their length. Here an attempt is made to look at the Sonar basin through a broader lens, examining the various landforms found in the district of Damoh through which the Sonar flows before joining the Ken. The objective of this paper is threefold: to bring together the geomorphology of the area both in association with and as a result of fluvial action but also as a product of other geomorphic processes; to understand the consequence these processes have on the visibility of the prehistoric archaeological record within the region; and to look at this geoarchaeological relationship in the wider context of some of the major river basins in Madhya Pradesh, notably the Son and Narmada. Secondary sources on geology and geoarchaeology have been integrated with preliminary fieldwork in Districts Damoh and Narsinghpur, and to a smaller extent in Sagar, Chhatarpur and Panna. This work demonstrates the complexity of the South Asian Palaeolithic record that stretches beyond fluvial contexts, in turn helping to spatially expand our understanding of hominin behaviour beyond narrow riverine corridors.