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Deep-rooted Indian Middle Palaeolithic: Terminal Middle Pleistocene lithic assemblage from Retlapalle, Andhra
Devara Anil1, Monika Devi2,3, Gopesh Jha4,5
1Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India.
Plos One
|August 27, 2024
Summary
The Indian Middle Palaeolithic era, crucial for understanding early human behavior, is now dated to 139±17 thousand years ago in Andhra Pradesh. This research reveals resilient hominin tool-making traditions during the Middle Pleistocene.
Area of Science:
- Archaeology
- Palaeoanthropology
- Geochronology
Background:
- The Indian Middle Palaeolithic (MP) is key to understanding hominin behavior and early Homo sapiens.
- Recent findings suggest MP emerged in situ from Late Acheulian culture during the Middle Pleistocene.
- MP culture in India demonstrated resilience to climatic events like the Toba super-eruption.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate Middle Palaeolithic artefacts from the Retlapalle area, Andhra Pradesh.
- Determine the age of the artefact-bearing layer using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating.
- Characterize the lithic assemblage to understand technological and behavioral patterns.
Main Methods:
- Field excavation and artifact recovery in the Retlapalle area.
- Post-Infrared Infrared-Simulated Luminescence (p-IR-IRSL) dating of the sediment layer.
- Typological and technological analysis of the stone tool assemblage.
Main Results:
- The artefact-bearing layer at Retlapalle was dated to 139±17 thousand years ago (ka).
- The Retlapalle assemblage shows diverse Levallois core technology, various retouched tools, pointed implements, and some blades.
- This dating places the site within the Middle Pleistocene, expanding the known temporal range for such sites in India.
Conclusions:
- The Retlapalle findings provide crucial new data for Middle Pleistocene hominin behavior in India.
- The study reinforces the antiquity and adaptive capacity of Middle Palaeolithic cultures in the region.
- Further research is needed to fully comprehend the complexities of the Indian Middle Palaeolithic during this underexplored period.
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