Paper short abstract:

Study of mottled carbonate palaeosols at Dhansi and Ganera indicate prolonged marshes, yield fewer artifacts and fauna. But abundant calcretes in Surajkund Fm indicate warm and humid seasonal moisture deficits, rich fauna and artifacts revealing metrical continuity from 'middle' to 'late' Acheulian.

Paper long abstract:

Based on field data the present paper describes archaeological and geo-environmental processes at work in the alluvial deposits of Hoshangabad and Sehore area in central Narmada valley where we recognized three distinct stratigraphic formations- the Dhansi (Lower Pleistocene), Surajkund (Middle Pleistocene) and Baneta (Upper Pleistocene). These alluvial strata have yielded evidences of vertebrate fossils and Palaeolithic industries with palaeoenvironmental signatures. The geological observations indicate that the mottled palaeosols at Dhansi and Ganera represent carbonate precipitations in prolonged standing water conditions. Abundance of calcretes in Surajkund Fm owing to cementation of calcium carbonate represents a prominent feature in climatic zones where seasonal moisture deficit occurs and allows accumulations of calcium carbonate. The Surajkund Fm is the major contributor to the Lower Palaeolithic industry in the study area and its metrical analyses revealed general continuity of the Acheulian industry from 'middle' to 'late' types.

Besides archaeological data, the Surajkund Fm yielded numerous mammalian fossils; the second author and his associates excavated many in situ crania and mandibles of Equus, Elephas, Bos, Bubalus, Hexaprotodon, Stegodon and Rhinoceros. The bio-stratigraphy indicates Middle Pleistocene age and points to warm and humid conditions with seasonal pools. The Dhansi Fm at Bikori Budhni section yielded several flakes; the second author excavated a few at Nagwada as well. As the Dhansi/ Surajkund palaeomag contact is correlated with the Brunhes-Matuyama boundary the artifacts are expected to be of the Lower Pleistocene, but rolled down is possible as they are indistinguishable from those of the overlying Surajkund Fm.

1. SATYA DEV and 2. A.R. SANKHYAN: 1. Aarhus University, Denmark; 2. Anthropological Survey of India.