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Bishnupriya Basak ¹, G. L. Badam ¹, Anupama Kshirsagar ¹, S. N. Rajaguru ¹

Affiliations
1 Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune 411 006, IN

Abstract

The authors present an integrated data on the Quaternary studies carried out during the 1993-95 field seasons in a lesser known area, the Tarafeni Valley in Midnapur District, West Bengal. Microliths primarily made on chert, quartzite have been found in association with colluvial deposits formed more or less contemporaneously with underlying nodular calcrete of pedogenic Oligin. Occurrence of several vertebrate fossils on the surface of the calcrete at Dhuliapur indicates Late Pleistocene age of the artefact bearing colluvial deposits. The formation of pedogenic calcrete in a sub-humid environment, with an average annual rainfall of 1600 - 2000 mm, suggests the presence of semi-aridity in Late Terminal Pleistocene period.

Keywords

Palaeoenvironment, Tarafeni Valley, Late Quaternary, Vertebrate Fossils, West Bengal.

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R. V. Joshi ¹, S. N. Rajaguru ¹, G. L. Badam ¹, P. C. Khanna ²

Affiliations
1 Deccan College, Post-graduate and Research Institute, Poona, IN
2 Geological Survey of India, Chandigarh, IN

Abstract

Recent geo-archaeological investigations in parts of Kashmir valley and Himachal Pradesh show that there is no positive evidence for the existence of early mall prior to Middle Pleistocene. The Stone age tools found in the area are dominated by choppers of Indian Lower Palaeolithic tradition.

The climate was warmer in the early Pleistocene than in the late Pleistocene. There is no convincing evidence of lowering of snow line below 2500m during the whole of the Pleistocene.

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G. L. Badam ¹, V. G. Sathe ¹, Rajinder Ganjoo ¹

Affiliations
1 Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune 411 006, IN

Abstract

New fossil material suggests that the Manjra valley was occupied, in part, by Middle Palaeolithic man from late Pleistocene to terminal Pleistocene.

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V. G. Sathe ¹, Salahuddin ¹, G. L. Badam ¹

Affiliations
1 Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune 411 006, IN

Abstract

A rich fossil bovid assemblage recovered from Nittur in Karnataka in association with Lower Palaeolithic tools is one of the very few fossil discoveries made from the Krishna basin. The antiquity of man-animal relationship in the area is pushed back to the Late Pleistocene times. The discovery has also a bearing on the palaeoecological conditions obtaining around Nittur during Late Pleistocene period.

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Nitesh G. Thakur ¹, G. L. Badam ², Abhay M. Varade ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, SGB Amravati University, Amravati 444 602, IN
2 No. 26/1-4, Hermes Paras-3, Kalyani Nagar, Pune 411 006, IN
3 Post Graduate Department of Geology, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur 440 001, IN

Abstract

One of the important fossiliferous localities being surveyed in recent years is the less known Purna Valley in Central India (Figure 1). However, the adjoining regions like the Central Narmada Valley have yielded numerous faunal remains in the past and these have been reported from time to time. In this context the Purna Valley assumes significant importance in the region. In fact, this area had remained less explored for a long time (Tables 1 and 2). Renewed efforts in this area have brought to light fossils from Bovidae, Equidae, Cervidae, Elephantidae and other groups like reptiles (turtles) and invertebrate fossils (molluscan shells) which are under study (Figure 2). In this study, the genus Elephas is reported from the Purna Basin. On the whole the material is well preserved and similar to that of the Narmada Valley. It throws enough light on the distribution pattern of these animals in Central and peninsular river valleys of India.

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