Palaeolithic Cultures of Maharashtra

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The primary aim of this book is to present a handy source for the prehistoric past of Maharashtra, with an emphasis on palaeolithic cultures. It further aims to provide the current state of knowledge about prehistory, hominin evidence, and the environment of the Quaternary period on a global scale as a background. With this aim, the book is divided into five chapters.

This book stands out for its distinctive focus on environmentally oriented prehistoric research within the Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP), spanning over an impressive seven decades. For understanding the complex relationship of early hominins with the ever-evolving landscape during the Quaternary period, this book provides updated knowledge of terminologies and methodologies essential for delving into the mysteries of prehistory.

Sushama G. Deo is a retired professor and former head of the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology, Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute (deemed to be a university), Pune, India. She completed her M.A. (Geography), followed by a Diploma in Computer Software, Systems Analysis, and Applications (ADCSSAA) and a Ph.D. (Archaeology). She has varied interests in prehistory, geoarchaeology, and archaeological computing.

She has published three monographs, three edited volumes, and 120 research papers in various national and international journals. In 2008-09, she was invited to conduct a full course on Geology and Quaternary of India: Archaeological Record at the Museu de Arte Pre-Historical de Macao, Portugal, under the Erasmus Mundus Research Scholar Programme.

She has conducted several explorations in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh and has excavated archaeological sites such as Kelshi (early historic), Morgaon, and Tikoda (Acheulian) jointly with her colleagues. Her field-based research in the Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP), particularly jointly with Prof. S.N. Rajaguru, has been widely recognised.

This book stands out for its distinctive focus on environmentally oriented prehistoric research within the Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP), spanning over an impressive seven decades. For understanding the complex relationship of early hominins with the ever- evolving landscape during the Quaternary period, this book provides updated knowledge of terminologies and methodologies essential for delving into the mysteries of prehistory.

As readers navigate through its pages, they will find not only a concise history of prehistory but also a dedicated chapter unravelling the fascinating journey of human evolution and the present status of Palaeolithic research throughout the world.

The genesis of this comprehensive work can be traced back to the early fifties, when Prof. H.D. Sankalia discovered the first tool made of basalt at Gangapur. It thus played a crucial role in changing the notion proposed by Robert Bruce Foote in 1866 that the Deccan Trap region was avoided by early humans due to the non-availability of good raw materials. Since then, numerous Palaeolithic sites have been reported by a number of scholars in this region. Prof. S.N. Rajaguru's pioneering research in the Deccan Trap region was instrumental in advancing our knowledge of landscape evolution throughout the Quaternary period. Following in the footsteps of these pioneering researchers, many scholars added a wealth of knowledge to our understanding of the prehistoric past. The book serves as the culmination of decades of dedicated research, incorporating the insights and discoveries made by these researchers.

In my research career, I am lucky to be part of the team led by Prof. S.N. Rajaguru and Prof. Sheila Mishra, who were engaged in continuous field work involving lengthy discussions on Quaternary environments and associated Palaeolithic cultures. Despite the challenges and diverse perceptions, the experience has immensely helped us in interpreting the geomorphic processes associated with Palaeolithic artefacts. Re-investigations of the earlier studied sites (Bori, Morgaon, and a few sites around Nevasa, Gangapur, and in the Upper Krishna Basin) with my Ph.D. students helped us add fresh data to our understanding of the paleoenvironment of the Deccan Trap region.

Finally, I would like to mention here that this book would not have been possible without the generous help and advice given at various stages by a number of people. Outstanding amongst them are the late Prof. S.N. Rajaguru and Dr. Jayendra Joglekar, who helped me in all kinds of ways, both practically and through discussions. Dr. Jayendra Joglekar's continuous help deserves special thanks for his critical suggestions and comments on improving the manuscript. I am thankful to my Ph.D. supervisor, the late Dr. R.S. Pappu, for introducing me to exploration techniques and Palaeolithic archaeology.

Prof. Pramod Joglekar's constant encouragement for this work is gracefully acknowledged.

I am grateful to Prof. K. Paddayya for encouraging me to carry out field-based studies and for his constant academic support. I acknowledge the timely help given by Dr. Akiyala Imchen and Mr. Mihir Tanksale by providing final versions of some maps and artefact photographs.

Prof. V.S. Kale's and Dr. Sudha Waddadi's academic support is greatly acknowledged.

I am thankful to the authorities of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune, and members of the BORI's Academic Development Programme, supported by the Infosys Foundation, for awarding me the scholarship for writing this book. The cooperation and support given by staff members of the BORI are deeply acknowledged.

I gracefully acknowledge the academic freedom and infrastructure support provided by the Deccan College, Pune, during my entire career.

Last but not least, I wish to express my deep gratitude to my family members for their selfless and unwavering support throughout my academic journey.

The present book is an outcome of the author's research done during her tenure scholarship at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute under the Academic Development Programme supported by the Infosys Foundation.

The archaeological record of prehistoric Maharashtra on the background of environmental settings is rich due to several decades of research and survey work conducted by several scholars. Dr. Sushama Deo is one of the scholars, who has actively contributed to this topic for the past three decades. This book provides comprehensive material evidence based on recent research covering both cultural and environmental aspects of prehistoric Maharashtra. It also gives the current state of knowledge about prehistory, hominin evidence, and the environment of the Quaternary period on a global scale as a background. It covers all the stages of the prehistoric period, i.e., the Lower Palaeolithic (Acheulian), Middle Palaeolithic, and Late Palaeolithic cultures. A noteworthy contribution of this book is the discussion on emerging trends in Indian prehistory, unsolved issues in Indian prehistoric research, and the key challenges that need to be addressed in the future. This book offers the prehistoric foundations of the Deccan Trap region of Maharashtra by providing a unique and balanced narrative of what happened in the prehistoric past with essential background on a wide variety of allied subjects.