Hominin migration in South Asia and raw material sources in the Banas-Berach basin

• Published in: Quaternary international 2012-08, Vol.269, p.59-67
• Main Author: Raczek, Teresa P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1040-6182; 1873-4553
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2011.07.037

Previous research conducted by V.N. Misra in the Berach River basin and its tributaries identified dozens of Early and Middle Paleolithic sites. Although southeastern Rajasthan is non-coastal and outside of the Purana-Gondwana basin zones described by Korisettar, sufficient resources in the form of water, food, and stone made the region habitable in the Pleistocene. Misra’s groundbreaking survey indicated that several non-riverine raw materials were used by hominins, but no evidence had been produced outside of the immediate vicinity of the rivers to demonstrate pursuit of stone material. Mobility restricted to riverine zones would present a challenge to migration between various ecological zones and ultimately to populating the subcontinent. This paper presents the results of a recent survey conducted directly to the south of Misra’s study and identifies an open air site situated on a raw material source. This find upholds the claim for non-riverine Pleistocene habitation by hominins in southeastern Rajasthan and the ability of hominins to migrate between multiple ecological zones.