Archaeology from Home:Abstract Book

ABSTRACTS

The Sharma Centre for Heritage Education is delighted to lend our webspace for the conference "Archaeology From Home: Connecting Things and Thoughts",  an international conference organised by and for early career researchers in Prehistory & Quaternary Sciences :"Archaeology from Home: Connecting Things & Thoughts" . Click here to read more on their FB page and Twitter account.  

The following details are posted by the Organising Committee: Dr. Prachi Joshi, Dr. Paromita Bose, Dr. Mokshada Salunke, Ms. Sutonuka Bhattacharya, Mr. Chintan Thakar

The following details are posted by the Organising Committee, and they may be contacted at: Email: archaeologyfromhome@gmail.com

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Day 1: 22.02.2020 (Monday: 15:00-18:00 IST)

Theme: Revisiting the past: historiography

A Century of Prehistory at Kibbanahalli: Paralleling trends in South Asian Prehistoric Studies

Akash Srinivas

IISER, Mohali, Punjab, India

Abstract- Palaeolithic remains were reported from Kibbanahalli for the very first time in 1921. In an almost century of investigations since, interpretations from the Kibbanahalli Palaeolithic Complex form the foundations of our understanding of the Palaeolithic record of South Karnataka. This region lies somewhat centrally to areas to the north, east and south, where detailed Palaeolithic investigations have resulted in firm cultural stratigraphy(s), and, in cases, of chronology(s). However, until recently, fundamental aspects of the Palaeolithic record of this region such as the stratigraphy, and lithic assemblage structure required further considerations. To understand why this situation persists, a detailed inquiry into the nature of research undertaken at Kibbanahalli was carried out. The historiography of research at the site parallel trends is evident in the foundation and development of prehistoric studies in South Asia. In this paper, the directions of historical research undertaken at Kibbanahalli will serve as a mirror to trace the growth and evolution of prehistoric studies, in general, and the study of the South Asian Palaeolithic, in particular – from chance encounters by geologists and other inspired workers, to its present state as a science rooted in multidisciplinary and problem-oriented research.

Significance of K.R.U. Todd in Indian Prehistory

Tejal Ruikar

Independent Researcher, Toronto, Canada

Abstract- K. R. U Todd (Killingworth Richard Utten Todd) was one of the pioneers who worked on the prehistoric archaeology of India. He was a commander in Royal Indian Navy, and a part of Burma naval operations during Second World War (1942-45). Despite these duties, he pursued his interest in archaeology. He is primarily known for his work on the classic site of Khandivli (Kandivali). He surveyed and collected stone tools from various parts of Bombay and Mysore as well as in present day Pakistan (Pindi Gheb and Karachi). Some of these collections are presently housed in Pitt Rivers Museum. He had also surveyed and excavated Mesolithic and Neolithic sites in Britain. He died in April 1950 at the young age of 45. This presentation explores his life as a commander and prehistorian, and attempt to analyze his work within the context of Indian prehistory. This presentation also attempts to bring to attention, the efforts of archaeologists and researchers that followed in the footsteps on Todd in exploring the region of Bombay. Finally, this presentation also highlights the need to investigate the work of personalities like Todd who contributed to the development of Indian prehistory but received little attention till date.

Theme: Hot from the field: Reports on recent field investigations

Evaluating the place of Qaru Durugeda Assemblages in the Northern Tanzania Sub-regional Acheulean Industrial Complex

Penina Emanuel

University of Der es Salaam, Der es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract- Recent field work has discovered a complex of archaeological industries dominated by Acheulean assemblages in the Northern Mbulu Plateau. The site lies roughly between 3.20.00-4.10.00S and 35.00.40.00E. The location is ideal for attempting regional reconstruction of the Acheulean because lying north of the area is the famous Olduvai Gorge, east Lake Manyara basin, north east Peninj and west Mumba Hole all of which have signatures of either proper or post Acheulean assemblages. This paper attempts to consider the assemblages from Qaru Durugeda, one of the areas within the Mbulu plateau and with the richest concentration of Acheulean artifacts for comparison with Acheulean assemblages from nearby sites with the view of suggesting a regional picture of the Acheulean. In doing so, this paper discusses quantitative and qualitative attributes, the raw materials and pattern distribution according to environmental facets.

Preliminary Investigations of the Lower Palaeolithic Locality at Jalindri, Rajasthan

Varun Vyas

Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Abstract- Acheulian biface industries comprise of various tool types such as handaxes, cleavers, picks, cores of various types and flakes. Even though there are huge morphological differences noted in these artefacts across sites, there is more scope for detailed typo-technological studies for understanding the making and the use of these artefacts. The primary objective of this paper is to present the Acheulian industry at Jalindri, Rajasthan on the basis of blank type and size, and geological context through the study of over hundreds of Acheulian bifaces. A comparative study with several other Acheulian sites across the Indian subcontinent and a few Old World sites has also been carried out. The preliminary results suggest the handaxes and cleavers from Jalindri are large, ranging from 25 to 30cm which falls in the range of Olduvai Gorge II in Africa and Mudnur in India (Shipton and Petraglia, 2011). It may therefore reflect the early Acheulian cultural affiliation. Further, most of the handaxes were observed to be made on slabs, which is not typical in case of Acheulian assemblages across India (Sharon, 2006; Paddayya, 1991). The paper further presents probable factors leading to the preference of specific blank types in this region. Several statistical tests such as the “t-test” and elongation and refinement analysis have been conducted in order to better understand the cultural aspects of the Acheulian assemblage. Distinctive features of the Acheulian assemblages in the region along with their relative dates are discussed through comparative morphometric studies.

Revisiting South Konkan: Do Large Cutting Tools from Malvan belong to Acheulian/Lower Palaeolithic?

Akiyala Imchen

Deccan College Post Graduate & Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Abstract- The Konkan coastal tract is one such region located in the Western coastline of Maharashtra, which has been under Palaeolithic investigation by various scholars since 1932 and on the basis of tool typology, they can be traditionally categorized from Lower Palaeolithic to Mesolithic. Despite this significance, there are no absolute dates available to supplement the stone tools which is why the Konkan region is yet to be placed in the Prehistorical timeline with credibility. A major breakthrough was made by Statira Guzder in 1975 when she discovered Palaeolithic sites in and around Malvan town, in south Konkan, Maharashtra. The present work is a part of PhD field exploration conducted during 2018 and 2019 field seasons. The current research will focus on the site of Salel Nangerbhat which yielded large flake assemblages. The lithic assemblage from this site will be compared with the rest of the Lower Palaeolithic sites in Malvan.

Examining long-term cultural transition in Wainganga river basin, India

Prachi Joshi

Research Intern at Sharma Centre for Heritage Education, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Day 2: 23.06.2020 (Tuesday: 15:00-18:00 IST)

Theme: Hot from the field: Reports on recent field investigations

Doma: a multi-technological Palaeolithic assemblage in Lower Son Valley

Shashi Mehara

IISER, Mohali, Punjab, India

Abstract- The Lower Son Valley is generally overlooked despite a lengthy history of archaeological and geological studies in the adjacent Middle Son Valley. However, recent explorations in the former have yielded a large number of Palaeolithic and microlithic sites. This paper provides an initial report on Doma, a newly discovered site with a stratified Palaeolithic sequence within the valley. The site preserves multi-technological phases starting from Late Acheulean (?), Middle Palaeolithic and Upper Palaeolithic (all tentatively assigned based on respective typologies). Preliminary field observations are presented on the sedimentary sequence, archaeological survey, topographical mapping, procurement of raw materials, and the overall technological assessment of Doma. The raw material utilised at the site is primarily chert, derived from exposures of the Semri Group of the Vindhayan Supergroup, which is locally available. The site preserves ~12 meter thick section with colluvial deposits consisting angular and sub-angular clasts at the base and fine sandy silty deposits with calcrete nodules on top. The Quaternary sediments at Doma have also yielded mammalian fossil specimens such as long bone fragments, dental specimens and antler fragments. In terms of typology, the Lower Palaeolithic evidence broadly resembles the Late Acheulean sites dated to 140-120 ka in the nearby Middle Son Valley. Along with the lithics and fossils, the site also preserves a good dateable sedimentary sequence with calcrete, all key proxies to develop a testable model of technological transitions within a palaeoenvironmental framework. This period includes the key transition from archaic Homo to prehistoric Homo sapiens and associated lithic technologies and subsistence patterns.

Palaeolithic Investigations in the Lower Ghataprabha basin, Karnataka

Malavika Chatterjee

Deccan College Post Graduate & Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Abstract- The Ghataprabha basin (Latitudes 15°39’ N and 16°30’N and the Longitudes 74° E and 76° E) drained by river Ghataprabha and its tributaries, covers an area of about 7231.15 sq. km spreading over Maharashtra and Karnataka. Numerous Palaeolithic explorations have been conducted by eminent archaeologists in this region especially by R.S. Pappu which resulted in the discovery of 119 sites yielding artefacts of the Lower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. Out of these sites, 73 sites of the Middle Palaeolithic were discovered in the lower reaches of the Ghataprabha Basin. However, detailed studies based on the artefacts were not carried out. In the light of three seasons of fieldwork by the author, aided with preliminary data gathered from the re-exploration of a few sites and minor collections made by the author, an effort is made to understand the sites’ context as they vary from hill slopes, pediments and river bed sites through surface collections. An effort is also made to understand if the artefacts could be demarcated into two cultures considering they are indistinguishable in terms of stratigraphy. These studies in turn could highlight the elements of regional variability characteristic of this area. Moreover, the explorations revealed the need of salvage archaeology due to dam construction, soil mining and road building activities as well as growing population. Above all, it aims to find the relevance and scope of river valley archaeology in present times.

Acheulean Archaeology in the Sudan, northeast Africa, new investigations from the lower Atbara River

Ahmed Nassr

University of Ha’il, Hail, Saudi Arabia

Abstract- Sudan in northeast Africa is located on the path ways of Out of Africa migrations; it is located between two homelands of early hominin types and cultures development, Homo erectus (Acheulean tradition) in southeast Africa and Homo sapiens (MSA traditions) in North Africa. The location and landscape of Sudan from the Nile valley and Sahara tributaries encourages research to investigate the Stone Age archaeology. Research of the Acheulean in the Sudan is very limited, it is mentioned within the general research of prehistory in the Nile valley. The Acheulean remains were mainly known from surface sites in central and northern Sudan during Arkell surveys 1940-44 and the Combined Prehistoric expedition 1956-64. New research conducted by the author in the eastern desert of Atbara river 2013 - 2016, eastern Sudan revealed high density of Acheulean localities on the Pleistocene depressions banking Atbara river and in the desert. These discoveries developed to joint survey and excavation project EDAR 2017 - 2019. Where stratified Acheulean and MSA dated by OSL to 500 – 60 ka. This presentation aims to highlight the chronology, cultural traits and regional important of the Acheulean archaeology in Sudan from an overview of the research results 1940 – 2010 and the new discoveries from eastern Atbara River.

A Stone Age palaeolandscape in South Africa: the lower Sundays River Valley

Matt Lotter

Palaeo-Research Institute, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract- The Earlier Stone Age sequence of southern Africa is well-documented from a range of sites, however, for the Eastern Cape Province, very few sites dating to this period have been found and sufficiently documented. As a result, very little is known about how this region fits into this greater southern African sequence. In 2011, a new research project was established to address this very issue, having as its main focus area the lower Sundays River Valley along with its associated sequence of dated alluvial terraces. Three key sites were identified and excavations have since been conducted, namely at Penhill Farm, Bernol Farm and Atmar Farm (ranging from 0.65 - 1.37 Ma). Data and new field findings will be presented, and emphasis will be placed upon understanding the typological and technological nature of the assemblages as well as the specific contextual conditions for their preservation. Overall, it will be shown that the lower Sundays River Valley is extremely rich in Earlier Stone Age material and the entire lower valley provides important insights into the understanding of hominin behaviours during the Pleistocene.

Stone Age sites in South Rajasthan

Hansmukh Seth

Independent Researcher, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

Abstract- South Rajasthan is a fertile region for agriculture, and the range of Aravalli’s is rich in mineral resources, which is being exploited from the Stone Age until today. After Independence, several scholars such as R.C. Agrawal, V.N. Mishra, Rima Hooja, Vijay Kumar, J. S. Kharakwal and others, have conducted archaeological explorations in Udaipur and in some areas of Dungarpur districts in this region and discovered a number of sites ranging from Chalcolithic to Historic and medieval period. However, a large part of this region remains unexplored. During my Ph.D research, I discovered new sites ranging from Stone Age to medieval period. This paper is based on my survey and findings, related to the Stone Age.

Prehistoric Explorations in the West Banas Basin, Sirohi District, Rajasthan

Chintan Thakar

Madhav University, Sirohi, Rajasthan, India

Abstract Extensive research in the modern state of Rajasthan has resulted in the discovery of numerous prehistoric sites.  However, certain regions have received considerably less attention.  This study is concerned with relatively unexplored area comprising the catchment area of the West Banas river basin, as preliminary reports suggested the presence of sites here (e.g. Chandravati, Syava and Arasuri Devi). The region is located in the southwestern part of Rajasthan, comprising an area of around 5136 sq. km. Here, we note predominantly Precambrian pre-gneissic granites superimposed by metamorphic rocks of Delhi Super group. Quaternary deposits are yet to be studied in detail, and this forms one of the aims of this research. In the present surveys, more than 30 sites were discovered which are located in river valleys, and hill slopes. At present, these comprise surface scatters occurring in the context of regolith. The context of artifacts at many sites is regolith which is derived from the weathering of granites. A total of 900 artifacts were collected spanning Acheulian to microlithic cultural phases, and comprising handaxes, scrapers, as well as a prominent component comprising fluted blade cores, and a range of blades and waste products, which are currently under analysis. This analysis will help in preparation of a comprehensive database of prehistoric sites in the study region. The detailed lithic analysis and establishment of the Quaternary stratigraphy of these sites will further help in understanding of the hominin behavior in this region.  This region is very important when discussing the range of adaptations of hominins to varying Pleistocene climatic changes, on the fringes of the Thar Desert and hominin adaptations to the same. It will supplement research conducted in the adjacent regions and help in filling in data from hitherto little researched areas in India.

Theme: Exploring material cultures: lithics, ceramics and more

What is this stone doing among so many bisons? Developing a new research project in Gran Dolina-TD10.2, Atapuerca

Andion Arteaga-Brieba

CaSEs Research group - Cultural and Socio-Ecological Dynamics, Universitat Pomeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract- The TD10.2 sub-unit at the Gran Dolina site (Atapuerca, Spain) contains an archaeological assemblage with more than 12.000 lithic and 60.000 faunal remains. Based on the zooarchaeological and taphonomic research previously made, this sub-unit (also called “bison bone bed”) was interpreted as a monospecific kill-butchering site, where the first evidence of communal hunting was documented. Preliminary approach to the lithic remains revealed an Acheulean assemblage with high incidence of small tools and a marked specialization in raw material´s management. This project aims to broaden our knowledge on the occupational dynamics and subsistence strategies of the hominin group(s) responsible for the accumulation of TD10.2, based on the lithic remains and their spatial distribution. Accordingly, three main objectives have been set: 1) To understand the site formation processes and to assess the integrity and resolution of the palimpsest. 2) To characterize the technological assemblage in the context of the European late Acheulean and to identify the technological and functional keys of a kill-butchery site. 3) To recognize spatial patterns pointing to behavioral and social organization. These objectives are going to be met by means of a multidisciplinary methodological approach, combining archaeostratigraphic deconstruction of the palimpsest, technological study of the lithic assemblages, and the study of refitting and lithic spatial distribution.

Day 3: 24.06.2020 (Wednesday: 15:00-18:00 IST)

Theme: Exploring material cultures: lithics, ceramics and more

Lithic Perspectives on Mobility and provisioning strategies at the Late Middle Palaeolithic site ‘Ein Qashish, Israel

Netta Mitki, Ravid Ekshtain, Ariel Malinsky-Buller, Omry Barzilai, Erella Hovers

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Abstract- Site settings on the prehistoric landscape can be schematically divided into two categories: A spatially constant and delimited locales (i.e. cave/rockshelters), where the physical limits constrain the occupation and often lead to the formation of long stratigraphic sequences; and open-air sites without physical bounds. In the latter case, repeated occupations (if they occur at all) may be located next to one another rather than as stratified deposits. The two types of sites form complementing parts of mobility and provisioning systems. With the discovery of new open-air sites in recent years, additional data on Middle Paleolithic (MP; 250-50ka BP) settlement systems in the Levant has led to a better understanding of the variability in their function and duration. The site of ‘Ein Qashish (EQ) in northern Israel adds to our understanding of hominin use of the open landscape. Four late MP (70-50ka BP) archaeological units were defined in EQ, allowing for a study of diachronic patterns of mobility and provisioning. We use lithic analysis to address these issues, focusing on a proxy associated with curation/expedient behaviour, i.e. cores. The analysis revealed that while the composition of the different archaeological units remains similar, differences in technological aspects can be discerned. Following existing models, we interpret such changes as nuanced differences in behavioural choices made by hominins in relation to their provisioning and mobility strategies.

Technological traditions at the end of the Middle Palaeolithic in the southern Levant? Point reduction sequences from Amud and Kebara caves, Israel, as a case study

Masha Krakovsky

Israel Antiquity Authority, Jerusalem, Israel

Abstract- A model of territorial behavior in the Middle Paleolithic of the Levant proposes that increases in group territoriality, inferred from site and assemblage characteristics on site in the Mediterranean zone of the southern Levant, should be reflected in the formation of archaeologically visible technological traditions. Here I test the model by looking at artifacts from the sites of Amud cave (sub-units B4, B2-B1) and Kebara cave (units XI-X), occupied contemporaneously by Neanderthals. We premise that if similar technological choices were made by the knappers at similar points of the production sequence and these choices are recurrent in several successive occupations of a one site, this might imply existence of a 'traditional' way to produce an artefact at that site. Because triangular Levallois items in the Levantine MP are created exclusively during knapping, they were chosen as the subject of study. For the analysis of intra- and inter-site variation in flake properties I used 3D geometric-morphometric shape analysis, technological attribute analysis and descriptive and inferential statistics. Shape analyses did not detect differences within assemblages or within sites. The attribute analysis and its statistical tests have shown that recurrent nuanced technological procedures were identifiable along the stratigraphic sequences of the sites. Patterns of variation observed in the samples of Kebara Cave represent consistent production procedures through time. At Amud Cave, each sample represents different characteristics. The results are discussed in the context of expectations of the territorial model and of their implications in terms of inter-group connections.

Prehistoric sites in the Kharla River Valley, Western Odisha: A Geo-Archaeological Perspective

Avick Biswas

Vidyasagar University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Abstract- This paper is a study of cultural antiquities reported from prehistoric sites of the Kharla river valley in Sambalpur district, Kuchinda subdivision, western Odisha. The Kharla river basin, developed within the Precambrian and Proterozoic rocks, has preserved prehistoric sites – mainly microlithic- in a thin (˂10 /m) colluvio-alluvial deposits of late Quaternary age. Flake tools/Middle Palaeolithic artifacts have been discovered in ferricretized cobbly pebbly gravel of early Late Pleistocene age. Geomorphic and palaeo-pedological features indicate humid climate during the early Pleistocene and early Holocene. The climate was distinctly dry during the later Late Pleistocene. Easy availability of raw materials like quartzite, chert, chalcedony etc. and availability of water in plunge pools of water falls, even in dry period, have attracted prehistoric hunter gatherers almost throughout the Late Quaternary. The raw material selection and techno-typological analysis of the assemblages have provided clues to understand behavioural pattern of the microlithic using communities and also try to reconstruct environmental condition during that period.

Cultural Transmission and Technological Transitions during the Late Paleolithic in Korea

Gayoung Park and Ben Marwick

University of Washington, Seattle, USA

Abstract- Archaeologists have applied evolutionary concepts linking material evidence and cultural phenomena to understand human behavior. Evolutionary approaches suggest that technological transitions can occur through changes in social learning processes, and transmission biases are important loci of changes. The onset of the Late Paleolithic period in Korea, represented by the appearance of projectile points and blades, is a key event in understanding modern human dispersal in East Asia. Previous studies mainly focus on possible origin locations of new technologies, but they rarely address the process of change. In this research we use a cultural transmission framework to investigate the social contexts that can give us insights into this emergence of new technology. Our main question is what is the dominant mode of cultural transmission for technological innovation in the Korean Late Palaeolithic. Inspired by Bettinger and Eerkens (1999), we build two models using guided variation and model-based bias. To test the models and understand the transmission process of technology, we use coefficients of variation (CV), correlations, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Here we show that the information about the new technology was transmitted via selective combinations of guided variation and model-based bias. We found that some attributes including length and width were transmitted through model-based bias, while other attributes appear to have been more dependent on raw materials or other factors. We anticipate our approach to be applicable to other research about technological change within social and cultural impact.

Investigating Raw Material Sources for Neolithic Polished Stone Celts in Eastern India

Paromita Bose

Research Intern at Sharma Centre for Heritage Education, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract- This paper discusses the sources of raw material in the context of Neolithic sites in eastern India, with a specific focus on polished stone celts. Sources preferred for raw material exploitation have significant implications when discussing prehistoric mobility, decision making, choices preferred, and potential networks of exchange. In Eastern India (at present comprising the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa), prehistoric polished stone tools, from sites ranging from 4210 to 3290 BP, have been reported in profuse quantities from both zones rich in raw material sources and from areas that lack the same. However, details regarding raw materials is sparse, with most studies focusing on tool typologies rather than aspects of technology or sequences of reduction. The author thus initiated the preparation of a comprehensive database of rock types in varied geological formations in eastern India, as also specific raw materials utilized for polished stone celt manufacture at Neolithic sites in this region. This is primarily based on the published sources, as also investigation through GIS of regional geological data and field and museum investigations. A total of 135 thirty-five sites are considered here. Preliminary results suggest that twenty-one different rock types were utilized for celts arising from a range of geological formations in the region. Right from exploitation of the rocks, to final tool production and usage, six different patterns of utilizations were observed. In addition, the distribution pattern of the sites also suggested probable existence of an exchange network between the with rock and no-rock zones either in form of tools or the raw materials. The significance of this study is that it is the first attempt to utilize varied sources to prepare and interpret the nature of rock types used by Neolithic populations in this region that has significant implications for interpreting mobility and perhaps complex social networks. Studies of specific provenance from selected sites is planned.

Acknowledgement

This work was completed as part of the author’s Ph.D. dissertation from the Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata and is planned to be continued at the SCHE, India.

Keywords: Eastern India; Prehistory; polished stone tools; exploitation pattern; raw materials.

Theme: Palaeolithic to Neolithic

Palaeolithic Archaeology of Kachchh with special reference to Dhaneti, Gujarat, Western India

Praveen Kumar

Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Abstract- The Kachchh region is one of the possible routes for Palaeolithic techno-cultural dispersals between Africa and India through Arabia. Yet, very little Palaeolithic research has been carried out in Kachchh. In the Lower Palaeolithic context, a handful of studies from the 1960s onwards have reported some Acheulean artefacts suggesting a meagre presence of Acheulean in the region. However, compared to Lower Palaeolithic, a number of Middle Palaeolithic sites have been reported. Recently a date for Kachchh Middle Palaeolithic has been reported from Sandhav (114 ka) which yielded a tanged piece with Levallois elements which may be linked to modern human presence in this region. A few diminutive bifaces and large flakes associated with the layers below could be related to Acheulean presence. Dhaneti is located in the middle of a shallow basin drained by the Ramaya Vango stream in Bhuj taluka. Here our exploration surveys yielded some Acheulean handaxes and large Acheulean flakes as well as Middle Palaeolithic artefacts. Among the Middle Palaeolithic material we found Nubian-like core and diminutive bifaces. Our collection at Dhaneti seem to indicate a Late Acheulean rather than Middle Palaeolithic occupation. However, in Kachchh we have no evidence of cleavers, and the lack of Acheulean elements in general is an interesting question.

Distinguishing sedimentation layers in slope deposits: a comparative study of the preservation of archaeological layers based on artifact orientations at Moiltyn-am, central Mongolia

Daria Marchenko

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia

Abstract- Discovered in 1949, the Moiltyn-am site was the first stratified Paleolithic occurrence found in Mongolia and has subsequently been investigated by three different research teams in the 1960s-1990s and by our own group beginning in 2018. The assemblages of horizons 1, 2 and 3 are considered as belongs to different stages of Upper Paleolithic with mixed materials, and cultural horizons 4-6, which was formed after 40 ka, relate to IUP. Here, I will present information from a study of archaeological deposits to understand the accumulation of cultural horizons at Moiltyn-am. Uncertain sedimentary conditions create difficulties in the cultural attribution of lithic assemblages. At Moiltyn-am, we compared cultural layers within the overall stratigraphic sequence to better understand depositional and post-depositional processes. To achieve this goal, data on artifact orientations for each stratigraphic layer were analyzed and compared. Subsequently, data on lithological divisions collected in 2018-2019 were correlated with stratigraphic units identified and described by previous research conducted at the site. My comparative study revealed significant differences between the site’s upper and lower stratigraphic layers. The upper part of the Moiltyn-am stratigraphic sequence is characterized by high isotropic values and the absence of any predominant orientation of stone artifacts. In fact, all indices are close to the range characteristic of natural rock falls. This result, in conjunction with the condition of the artifacts themselves, leads us to conclude that cultural materials in the upper layers were repeatedly redeposited. In the lower layers, artifacts were predominantly oriented parallel with the slope, exhibiting indices closer to those resulting from solifluction.

Spatially discrete post-depositional disturbances of Layer 4 also affected underlying strata. This distinction between the upper and lower layers was also apparent in previous excavations situated up-slope from our excavation unit, with only slightly differing results. All layers exhibit higher isotropic values and lower indices of elongation, probably reflecting changes occurring in the lower part of the slope deposits. The study revealed that upper cultural layers were formed in similar conditions and cultural materials in them were completely disturbed, explaining the mixed character of its industries. Layer 4 is a result of different process connected with solifluction, which probably doesn’t destroy cultural unity of lithic assemblage. Thus, this layer may be considered as independent cultural unit.

Day 4: 25.06.2020 (Thursday: 15:00-18:00 IST)

Theme: All about Palaeoenvironments: landscapes, plants, animals, and people

Palaeoenvironments and Palaeontology of the Atambua Basin, Timor Island, Southeast Asia

Ati hidayah, Unggul Prasetyo Wibowo, Ananta Purwoarminta, and Gilbert J. Price

Bali Institute for Archaeology, Bali, Indonesia

Abstract- Pleistocene vertebrate faunas have long been known from the island of Timor but have rarely been studied. In particular, dwarf elephant-like proboscideans such as Stegodon were once widespread across the island, including in the Atambua Basin. The aim of this paper is to document such fauna in the basin but within a palaeoenvironmental framework. Our methods included field surveys, excavations, pollen analyses, and U-series dating. Palaeoenvironmental data based on geomorphology and hydrological information demonstrate a transition from marine to fluvial depositional conditions in the basin. Pollen data supports this inference where there is a clear shift from mangrove to terrestrial vegetation types. The palaeoclimate was evidently high in humidity with high-flow floods across the basin after that transition. Fossil vertebrate faunas are restricted to fluvially-derived sandstone units. While lithics were recorded widely across the basin, they come from surface finds only. Direct dating of the vertebrate fossils suggest that they are Middle Pleistocene or older, and thus pre-date the oldest records of humans on the island by >42 thousand years.

Late Pleistocene and Holocene Bird Remains from Creag Nan Uamh, Scotland

Chloe Stringer

University of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Abstract- The Creag nan Uamh ‘Bone caves’, located in Assynt, Scotland, contain a faunal assemblage dating from the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene. While theories of human presence at the site during the Late Glacial period have since been refuted, Creag nan Uamh remains significant due to the completeness of its Late Pleistocene faunal assemblage. Despite this, however, previous analyses of the material have been incomplete, failing to include the bird remains excavated from the Late Pleistocene layers. This research aims to gain a better understanding of the ecosystem that existed at the cave over time through a detailed analysis of its avifaunal remains. The material, today housed at the National Museum of Scotland, was recorded and analysed using modern comparative collections. Analysis of morphological and biometric data enabled specimens to be identified into taxonomic groups. An understanding of which taxa were present at the site over time allows for an understanding of what resources were available in the area. Furthermore, by using the modern habitats of these species, an understanding of the environment surrounding the cave over time was established. This study found that, in comparison with previous environmental analyses made without the avifaunal material, the bird species provided a more detailed view of the Late Pleistocene environment. It is hoped that the results of this research can be used as a comparison to any future Late Pleistocene and Holocene assemblages found in Scotland.

Refitted Bone, Food Lumps and Terracotta Cakes: thinking through the complex creation of a midden pit at Kadebakele

Jennifer Bates, Kelly Wilcox Black, Kathleen Morrison

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

Abstract- The South Indian Iron Age (1200 BCE-300 BCE) is a period of increasingly intensive agricultural strategies. Despite the important nature of this transitional period between the Neolithic and paddy rice dominated Early Historic periods, much of the discussion concerning food practices throughout the South Indian Iron Age has been limited to a presentation of broad stroke similarities and differences between the periods that precede and follow it. Less attention has been paid to investigating and amplifying the diversity of food practices evident within the South Indian Iron Age itself. In part, this problem stems from a lack of studies that explicitly combine and think through faunal and archaeobotanical datasets as part of their interpretative framework. This paper is a first step in reconstructing a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the diversity of food practices in the South Indian Iron Age through a focused analysis of faunal and archaeobotanical remains from an enigmatic pit feature (Feature 40) from the site Kadebakele. Using Feature 40 as a snapshot example, we explore how the combined analysis of faunal and archaeobotanical remains provides an opportunity to think through the different processes by which plant and animal remains were incorporated into the archaeological assemblage and how they can aid in our interpretation of how features at the site were used and what activities took place. In doing so we can begin to move beyond simple species lists towards a more complex archaeological interpretations of human food choices and practices in the South Indian Iron Age.

Pollen studies to understand past landuse and landcover changes

Navya Reghu

French Institute of Pondicherry, Puducherry, India

Abstract- Palynology, the study of pollen and spores, has its utility mainly in ‘Tracing the Vegetation History’, which has a great value in Paleoecology, Archaeology and Palaeoanthropology (Moore et al., 1991). Pollen grains are produced in the flowers and are meant for the reproduction of plants, encasing the male gametophyte. Pollen grains are produced in large numbers in the flower and are deposited on the female reproductive organ. This whole process is called as Pollination. Pollen grains disperse by various mechanisms in order to assure fertilisation. Once dispersed by wind, insects and other animals, they eventually settle down in the soil and stay buried in the ground for several years. The pollen grains which dispersed from the flowers will get deposited on the surface soil, pond, lake, river, archeological mounds and sites etc. They possess morphological characters that are specific to a “pollen morphotype”; frequently, this morphotype corresponds to a particular genus or a species of the plant.

Pollen preserved in peats, lakes, alluvial deposits, estuaries, marine environments and glacial ice have been recovered and serve as the principal source of information for paleoclimatic reconstruction. This is due to their resilience to many environmental conditions and their production in large numbers. Modern vegetation communities can be considered as analogs of past vegetation. The pollen assemblages of the present can be considered to be analogs of the past, during the Quaternary period. The first work on the interpretation of fossil pollen records and its significance to quaternary paleoecology was published by von Post in 1917 (Jarzen and Nichols, 1996) using pollen percentages. This approach includes identification and tabulation of different pollen grains recovered from the vertical section of the sample retrieved from the lake or peat and the presentation of the pollen percentages in diagram. This method became very popular all over the world.

Palynology plays a major role in understanding the past land-cover and land-use changes since they reflect the vegetation, local and regional, at the time of pollen deposition which can indirectly yield information about past climatic conditions. The inspiration for my present paper is the works on archeological sites at the French Institute of Pondicherry using palynology (Guinet 1966) and the recent phytolith-based studies at a megalithic burial site (Premathilake et al., 2017) and a Paleolithic site (Premathilake et al., 2017). In this paper, the first one after submission of my PhD Thesis entitled “Pollen based estimates of Holocene vegetation in southern India: An LRA (Landcover Reconstruction Algorithm) approach”, I will present the ways in which my work can potentially be applied in archeological contexts; though this approach is new in the tropics, where it is well developed its main application is in validating past Anthropogenic Land-Cover Changes, (ALCC models, Gaillard et al., 2010) This quantitative landcover modeling approach developed by Sugita (2007a and b) provides information critical to advance our knowledge of human interactions with the climate system. Though pollen grains are better preserved in peat lands rather than in the drier archeological contexts of many parts of India, I am confident that with some methodological adaptations pollen grains can prove their relevance in Indian Archeology too.

Prediction of Archaeological Potential Site Location in Middle and Lower Part of Mayurakshi River Basin

Sukumar Hazra

Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India

Abstract- The prediction of archaeological site is an essential tools for decision making process. The present study investigates the Archaeological potential site in the middle and lower part of Mayurakshi river basin using Logistic Regression (LR) modeling techniques. For this analysis one dependent variable (Archaeological site) and eight independent variable such as slope, aspect, curvature, proximity to water bodies, soil, proximity to modern settlement, geology and elevation were used. The spatial database prepared in GIS environment based on 222 sample point. Dataset were divided into two parts such as training dataset (70%) and testing dataset (30%). Training dataset used to prepare model and spatial map of Archaeological potentiality were generated in GIS environment based on LR result. The prepared map were validated using dataset using receiver operating curve (ROC) area under curve (AUC) method. The AUC value of model is 0.880 which reflects excellent accuracy of the model. The archaeological potential map classified into five classes such as very high, high, moderate, low and very law .

Day 5: 26.06.202 (Friday: 15:00-18:00 IST)

Theme: Palaeolithic to Neolithic

Palaeolithic Cultural Transitions and Lithic Variability in the Middle Godavari Basin, Telangana, India

Mokshada Salunke

Trivandrum International School, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Abstract- The present paper looks at the Middle Godavari basin, South India, particularly focusing on the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) and Late Palaeolithic (LP), with at present, sparse evidence of the Acheulian. Regional archaeological investigations are important in establishing local chronological and evolutionary sequences that potentially aid in situating India in the context of global debates on population migrations. The region was previously investigated by Thakur Raja Ram Singh (1979a, 1979b, 1984). Three seasons of exploration conducted by the author re-examined 20 sites with a total of 2,657 artefacts analysed. Acheulian assemblages were noted at one site, stratigraphically underlying the MP. Artefacts are on quartzite cobbles procured off-site from around a radius of 2-3 sq. km. The MP occupation (n=7) occurs in varied contexts over the landscape and are seen associated with loose gravel and sands (palaeo-strath terrace), on weathered bedrock capped by red soil and in context of calcareous cone. They are concentrated in the Gondwana Exposures in proximity to potential raw material sources.The MP assemblage is marked by use of prepared core technology with the presence of Levallois, discoidal and other flake cores, as also a proliferation of small flake tools. At the LP sites (n=12) located in the Gondwana Exposures, artefacts are in context of gravel and of regolith derived from underlying weathered bedrock, and those located in the Deccan Trap region are found in association with black soil and with regolith derived from basalt and  granite bedrock. There is an observed shift to siliceous raw material such as chert and chalcedony. The LP assemblages are dominated by flake as well as different types of blade reduction strategies. In case of MP assemblage, bifaces continue as seen on other sites in India and elsewhere. The continuity of a few Levallois cores into the LP also suggests continuity in some technological strategies further implying its regional development. Although not dated yet, there is a potential of stratified sites that can be useful for future studies. We note that this study has brought to light an important region in South India with new data on distribution of sites, stratigraphic contexts and geomorphology, nature of lithic assemblage, their reduction sequences and changes within them through time.

This work formed part of my doctoral research submitted at Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute under the guidance of Prof. S. Pappu and Dr. Kumar Akhilesh for their guidance.

Prehistoric subsistence strategies and settlement patterns in Misimagre, West Garo hills, Meghalaya

Gangotri Bhuyan

North-eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India

Abstract- Subsistence is an important concept in the study of the human culture as it represents the base of all human behaviour, whereas the study of settlement patterns helps to understand how a particular society uses the available resources in its region. Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers evolved into the Neolithic food producers i.e., their subsistence strategy shifted from food gathering to food producing, so did their settlement patterns. Researchers have long been amazed by the knowledge the hunter-gatherers have about the environment including extremely detailed information about the flora and fauna, the geography and the subsistence alternatives. As such the only evidences of the prehistoric practices are found in the shape of the material culture and the organic and inorganic remnants. Environment thus is an important factor which conditions the habitat in a given geographical area or it may be referred to as the major determinant in human cultural pattern, which includes subsistence strategies, settlement patterns, oral traditions, etc. There are innumerable sites discovered, and details of evidences listed from the region of Garo Hills. However, the region, including most of northeast India, has been found to be most unfavorable for ecofactual and other organic evidences. This paper therefore will discuss the archaeological significance of one of the sites in West Garo Hills viz., Misimagre and an ethno-archaeological attempt to reconstruct past subsistence strategies and settlement patterns of the site based on archaeological and ethnographic data.

Theme: Multidisciplinary approaches in Archaeology

Primate Archaeology: revisiting our past by exploring the present

Jayashree Mazumder

IISER Mohali, Punjab, India

Abstract- Primate archaeology is a form of time travel, in which we can witness living non-human primates perform tool-use, that helps us to link and understand how our common ancestors could have evolved since time. In this particular field, we can not only study the behaviour of the living primates but can also explore the ‘tools’ they use and how cultures are created. There are 600+ living primates, but to study archaeology through the lens of a non-human primate, we are restricted to only five species, which are- gorillas, chimpanzees (which also includes the bonobos, i.e. dwarf chimpanzee), orangutan, capuchins and long-tailed macaques. A thorough study of animal tool-use behaviour has enabled us to understand the site formation process, culture and causes for cultural differentiation. Studying primates cultural and tool-use behaviour is a new addition to the branch of archaeology, and it anthropogenically expresses animal behaviour, which helps in relating primate behaviour with human evolution. Studying animal tool culture has also raised a few issues like defining what a tool is, what is tool-use, characteristics of tool, etc. Even when types of tools differ between human and non-humans, there are certain activities which seem to be similar (spear, hammer and anvil). As we see archaeology has seen the emergence of similar culture across the globe, in living non-human primates also we see the same phenomenon. My talk will be dedicated to understanding what primate archaeology could be and also its importance to the study of human evolution.

Is Archaeology Really a Subfield of Anthropology or an Individual Field in Itself?

Umesh Lokhande and S. Shimray

St. Xavier’s College, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India

Abstract- Worldwide, archaeology is considered as a sub-filed of anthropology. We are well aware that archaeology seeks to collect and study the objects found in excavations, the field archaeology itself has various sub-fields such as maritime Archaeology, ethnoarchaeology and Zooarchaeology but is the field of archaeology is really a sub-field of anthropology? Archaeology collects data which is being used by anthropologists and historians. Both history and anthropology are fields that are considered different from each other but utilize the data collected under archaeology. We can take example of mathematics; it is useful in economics, in fact in scientific fields, at some extent, such as physics uses mathematics, but mathematics is recognized as an individual field then why is archaeology not considered as an individual field? If we take a look over anthropology, it is the scientific study of humans, human behavior, societies in the past and present. Whereas archaeology excavates the hidden part related humans, but the field archaeology has its own theoretical approaches. Therefore, the present presentation deals with if archaeology a sub-field of anthropology or an individual field. It studies methodological, theoretical and practical approaches that signifies archaeology as an individual field, also the present paper has given identification of arch