Format: Paper presentations with discussion
Convenors:
Devara Anil, Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India, devara.anilkumar@gmail.com
Gopesh Jha, Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany, gjha@gea.mpg.de
Faisal Aljibrin, Heritage Commission, Saudi Ministry of Culture, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, faljibrin@moc.gov.sa
Abdullah Alsharekh, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, asharekh@ksu.edu.sa
Michael Petraglia, Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, m.petraglia@griffith.edu.au
Southern Asia, extending from the Arabian Peninsula to Australia, has been the focus of intense interest for understanding human dispersals in the Middle and Late Pleistocene. The last 300,000 years encompasses the extinction of archaic hominins in Southern Asia and interbreeding with Homo sapiens. The circumstances behind hominin extinctions and expansions are poorly known. Here we will investigate the archaeological record of Southern Asia, examining the behavioural record, situating it in the various, changing ecosystems of Southern Asia. The co-existence of multiple technological trajectories, particularly in the Late Pleistocene, underscores the diversification and regionalisation, highlighting the complexity of cultural processes such as convergence and population expansion, contraction, and diffusion. Understanding the relationships and interactions among hominin populations across Southern Asia is crucial for reconstructing human evolutionary history. Recent research across this region has not only underscored its pivotal role in understanding human behavioural evolution, but has also challenged several prevailing perspectives in the field of human evolutionary studies. Against this backdrop, the current session invites papers focusing on Palaeolithic sites that employ multidisciplinary approaches to provide significant insights into ongoing debates on human behavioural evolution.
Papers:
Tracing the Roots of Non-Laminar Blade Technology: Experimental and Morphometric Study of Pyramidal Core Reduction in Middle Palaeolithic Jharkhand, Eastern India
Shubham Rajak, Dept of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune, India; School of Heritage Research and Management, Dr B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi, New Delhi
Pronil Das, Dept of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune, India
Pawan Teja, Dept of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune, India; School of Humanities, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Systematic production of blades from the prepared core is generally considered a characteristic of Upper Palaeolithic Homo sapiens. However, in some regions, the systematic production of large blade technology started parallel with the Levallois technology of the Middle Palaeolithic. Blades and Levallois flake are recorded as early as 268 ± 68 ka from Middle Palaeolithic phase II of Attirampakkam, Southern India. However, the reduction sequence and further development of this non-laminar blade technology is one of the major research gaps in Indian prehistory. The present paper investigated the experimental reduction sequence of pyramidal or horsehoof cores and the production of long blades at the Middle Palaeolithic sites of Northern and Southern Jharkhand, Eastern India. Experimental work employing 3D scanning technology facilitated the comparison of different methods and variables for measuring reduction intensity, including the percentage of non-cortical surface, the Scar Density Index (SDI), and a novel adaptation of the Volumetric Reconstruction Method (VRM). The present study also conducted a comparative 3D geometric morphometric study between the Middle Palaeolithic sites of Northern and Southern Jharkhand to interpret the morphological similarities and technological development of reduction sequences.
Typo-Technological Analysis of Late Acheulian Tools at Chicholi: Implications for South Asian Prehistory
Mohd Zakir Khan, School of Studies in Ancient Indian History Culture and Archaeology, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, India
Dr Devara Anil, Dept of Archaeology and Ancient History, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India
Shimon Prakash, Adi Drishya Division, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Janpath, New Delhi, India
The Middle Pleistocene was a period of profound change and transition, marked by significant climatic shifts that impacted hominin behaviour and ushered in critical advancements in lithic technology. Among these, the Middle Palaeolithic is a transformative phase in stone tool production. However, its origins in South Asia remain debatable, with questions surrounding whether it emerged through indigenous innovation or external influences. Recent studies have redefined the timeline for Middle Palaeolithic technology in South Asia. Notably, the dating of Middle Palaeolithic sites in India, such as Attirampakkam (~385±64 ka) and Hanumanthunipadu (~247±32 ka), suggests that South Asian Middle Palaeolithic assemblages likely represent indigenous innovations
Against this backdrop, the current study examines the Late Acheulian assemblages at the Chicholi site complex in the Hasdeo River Valley, Chhattisgarh. It focuses on the typo-technological analysis of artefacts from nine clusters found in stratified, in-situ contexts. To provide insights into the cognitive and behavioural evolution of hominins in the region, the study aims to identify elements of prepared core technology. These findings not only enhance our understanding of regional technological trajectories but also contribute to broader discussions on the adaptive strategies and evolutionary processes of hominin populations during the Middle Pleistocene.
Microliths within Smaller Landscapes: Exploring Regional Variations in Microlithic Technology of the South Indian Peninsula
Mutharasu Anbalagan, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India
Jinu Koshy, Excavation In-charge, University of Madras, India
Don Wesley M, Acharya Nagarjuna University, India
Microliths, though a global phenomenon, have sparked ongoing debates regarding their indigenous origins in South Asia. Whether microlithic technology emerged indigenously or was introduced by Homo sapiens migrating from Africa remains contentious. However, apart from addressing origin theories, it is crucial to simultaneously continue to investigate the production and variation of microliths within distinct landscapes. The analysis of microliths from various landscapes provides valuable insights into the influence of regional environmental factors on lithic production, including raw material utilisation, land use strategies, mobility patterns, and subsistence practices of microlithic producers. This study aims to examine regional variations in microlithic technology across diverse landscapes of the South Indian peninsula, including rock shelters, sand dunes, and open-air sites. Through a comprehensive analysis of typo-technological, metrical and non-metrical attributes, this research seeks to enhance our understanding of technological variations, the sequential stages of microlithic production, raw material exploitation, and land use patterns within smaller, yet significant, landscapes of the region.
The Late Middle and Early Upper Palaeolithc Records from the Faya Palaeolandscape (UAE) Reveal Human Occupation of Southeast Arabia Between 80 ka and 35 ka
Knut Bretzke, University of Jena, University of Tübingen, Germany
Khuloud Alhouli, Sharjah Archaeology Authority
Sabah Jasim, Sharjah Archaeology Authority
Eisa Yousif, Sharjah Archaeology Authority
Nicholas J. Conard, University of Tübingen, Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, Germany
Intensified archaeological field work recently increased the number of stratified and dated Palaeolithic sites in Arabia, transforming the region from a perceived periphery to a key area for studying human evolution. While the Last Interglacial (ca. 130-115 ka) is relatively well known, the subsequent, more arid Last Glacial Period (ca. 115-12 ka) is only very sparsely represented in the archaeological records of Arabia. We present here results from 30 years of collaborative interdisciplinary research on the Palaeolithic period between Sharjah Archaeology Authority and the University of Tübingen. Within the Faya Palaeolandscape in the central region of Sharjah (UAE), we excavated two key sequences (FAY-NE1, Buhais Rockshelter) that provide rare insight into human adaptation to shifting environmental conditions during the Last Glacial Period in Arabia. We will provide an overview of the archaeological landscape and present new results, such as the occurrence of a Middle Palaeolithic blade technology at 80 ka, evidence for late Middle Palaeolithic occupation at 60 ka and the arrival of typical Upper Palaeolithic technological traditions in the region at 35 ka. Our results also provide critical data that refines early human dispersal models from a key region along the southern route out of Africa into southern Asia.
Initial Modern Human Colonisation of South Asia: New Perspectives
Devara Anil, Dept of Archaeology and Ancient History, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India
The colonisation of South Asia by modern humans is debated between the Post-Toba (MIS 4-3) and Pre-Toba (MIS 5) models. The Post-Toba model suggests dispersal from Africa around 50–60 ka along coastal routes, reaching Australia by 45–50 ka, supported by genetic and lithic evidence. The Pre-Toba model proposes an earlier dispersal around 120–130 ka via the Levant or Arabian Peninsula, based on Middle Palaeolithic assemblages beneath the 74 ka Toba ash deposits at Jwalapuram. Both models face challenges, including the absence of human fossils and inconsistencies in archaeological and genetic data.
Our research at Hanumanthunipadu, A. Agraharam, and Nandanavanam in Southern India provides new insights. The Mode 3 lithic assemblages from Hanumanthunipadu, dated to over 247 ka, indicate that Middle Palaeolithic technology predates modern human dispersal. At A. Agraharam and Nandanavanam, transitional assemblages between Late Acheulian and Middle Palaeolithic industries suggest a gradual, indigenous technological evolution rather than an abrupt replacement. These findings challenge the assumption that Middle Palaeolithic technology in South Asia was solely introduced by modern humans. This study highlights independent technological development and regional continuity, presenting a more complex narrative of modern human migration into South Asia.
Technological Reconstruction of Laminar Core Reduction Strategies in South Bihar, India
Akash Pandey, Dept of Archaeology and Ancient History, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India
The transition from Middle Palaeolithic prepared core technology to subsequent technologies in South Asia remains unclear. Researchers suggest a gradual shift from the prepared core technology to microblade production, suggesting an evolutionary trajectory from Levallois cores to unidirectional cores, accompanied by an increasing presence of blades and burins during the late Middle Palaeolithic in the Middle Son and Jurreru valleys. Conversely, at other South Asian sites, the sudden emergence of microblade industry is interpreted as an abrupt technological shift linked to the dispersal of Homo sapiens equipped with microblade toolkits. Consequently, sites preserving transitional elements such as both blade and bladelet assemblages are significant for understanding the technological shift. The present study investigates blade and bladelet assemblages systematically collected using a grid method from three open-air sites in the Kharagpur Hills, South Bihar. Each stage of laminar production, including raw material acquisition, initial core preparation, blank production, core maintenance, final reduction phases, and tool preparation, were analysed in the assemblage. The complete reduction sequence of the assemblage was reconstructed by the detailed study all phases of core reduction including the analysis of blanks and core trimming elements such a core tablets and rejuvenation flakes.
Human Occupation on the Eastern Red Sea Region: New Data from Wadi Dabsa, SW Saudi Arabia
Matthew Meredith-Williams, La Trobe University; University of York, UK
Abdullah Alsharekh, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Faisal Aljibrin, Heritage Commission, Saudi Ministry of Culture, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Anthony Sinclair, University of Liverpool, UK
Lee Arnold, University of Adelaide, Australia
Roman Garba, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
Khaled Alasmary, Heritage Commission, Saudi Ministry of Culture, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Alahmari, Heritage Commission, Saudi Ministry of Culture, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Antoine Delaunay, Guillaume Baby, and homas Teillet, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
Kira Otterbach, University of Adelaide, Australia
Geoff Bailey, University of York, UK
Here we present new data from ongoing work at Wadi Dabsa in southwest Saudi Arabia, where lithic assemblages have been identified encased in tufa deposits dating to MIS5 and MIS7. The ever-changing landscape of the Tihama Plain, with active volcanics, dynamic coastline, and mountainous backdrop, provided diverse opportunities for past populations, as well as creating unique preservation conditions for archaeologists. We are employing a multidisciplinary, multiscalar approach to investigate the site and landscape in order to better understand the timing and nature of human activity on the Arabian Peninsula, and human dispersals.
The Arabian Peninsula, at the crossroads between Africa and Eurasia, has the potential to make significant contributions to our understanding of dispersals and the occupation of Arabia. A growing body of evidence is beginning to suggest that Arabia may have served as more than just a conduit through which dispersing populations passed, and may have been home to extant populations during interglacial periods. One of the key questions is where to look for this evidence, and whether it represents refugial populations, or periods of episodic and opportunistic occupation of the landscape. This is part of the larger DISPERSE Project looking at human dispersals out of Africa into Arabia.