Findings from Saurashtra fossils
Context
Human evolution and migration have long been subjects of scientific exploration. A recent study challenges the coastal migration theory by presenting new evidence from the Saurashtra peninsula in Gujarat, India.
About the Key Findings
- Discovery of Artefacts
- Researchers unearthed stone tools in the Bhadar and Aji river basins of Saurashtra.
- These tools, made of materials like chert, jasper, and agate, date back to 56,000–48,000 years ago, during the Middle Palaeolithic period.
- Tool-Making Techniques
- The artefacts showcase advanced flaking techniques, indicating the skill of early humans.
- No evidence of sharper, blade-like tools from the Late Palaeolithic was found, contradicting earlier coastal migration theories.
- Challenges to Coastal Migration
- The study disputes the coastal dispersion model, emphasizing the inland movement of human ancestors across the Indian subcontinent.
- Lack of marine resource evidence, such as fish or shellfish remains, further supports this inland dispersal theory.
- Geological Insights
- During the Middle Palaeolithic, Saurashtra was a vast landmass connected to Kutch, Makran, and the Western Ghats.
- Rising sea levels over time may have submerged potential coastal sites, complicating definitive conclusions.
- Expert Perspectives
- Scholars like Shanti Pappu highlight the significance of new data but stress the need for precise dating methods.
- The study prompts a broader view of human dispersal, combining inland, coastal, and hinterland expansions.
