NIHAL KOSHIE
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
HYDERABAD:  Scientists  at the  Geological  Survey  of India (GSI),  have found mammalian fossils  belonging to  Late Upper  Pleistocene  period (75,000  to 10,000  years ago) in Prakasam district.

These  fossils,  which were  found  in  the river  basins  of Gunttakama and  Maneru, throw light  on the type of  animals, vegetation  and  the  climate  that existed  in  this  region during that time.

The fossils  have been found above the deposits of  volcanic ash that is similar  to the ash from a volcanic eruption that took  place from Toba  Caldero in  N o r  t h e  r n  Sumatra about  75,000 years  ago,? geologist K  Shanker said.  Hence, the  age of  the fossils  is not  a question  of dispute,  he said. Dr C V  N K Rao and Y Sitaramaiah, both geologists, are also part of this project.

The  fossils collected  consist of  bovids (cattle),  servids (deer), the  Great Indian  Horse, wild boar, rhinos,  crocuta (a specie of hyena),  porcupines, elephants and even primates belonging to the langoor species.

Some  of  these  mammals  like the  Great  Indian  Horse  are extinct,  while the  others have migrated  to other  regions. ?These  fossils  have  established  beyond  doubt  that  such mammals  lived near  these river basins,?  Shanker said.  The type of  mammalian population also suggests the existence  of a  warm tropical  humid climate with  a Savanna  (grasslands) type of  vegetation as compared to the almost desert type  of vegetation   and   semi-arid   climate   that   exists   now.

This is  the first  time GSI has  found such fossils in  this region.  Geologists are now  trying to find  out what  caused the disappearance  of these  animals, as also the  vegetation and climate.  ?The finding  of most of  these fossils in  the flood  plain deposits points  to the possibility  of a  flood leading  to  the  disappearance of  these  mammals,?  Shanker said.

Another  theory  that is  being  considered is  the  volcanic eruption  from  Toba  Caldero,  which could  have  led  to  a climatic change  as fossils were found above the deposits  of volcanic  ash.The finding  of paleolithic  implements of  the upper  paleolitic period  also  suggests the  possibility  of human   interference    with   animal   and   the    habitat.

The objective  of GSI now is to find existence of  fossilised remains of  the earliest  man from this region.This  on-going project  was  started under  the  supervision of  GSI  former director D  C Das Sharma (retd).  GSI director A K Moitra  is heading the  project and deputy director Nirmal  Chattopadyay is guiding it.

Importance of archaeology highlighted

ALLAHABAD: A 21-day refresher course in ancient history under the coordination of Dr R P Tripathi concluded on Wednesday in the department of ancient history, AU. Renowned art historian, Prof R N Mishra from Jiwaji University, Gwalior, presided and Prof B N S Yadava, former head of the department of ancient history, AU, was the chief guest.

In his address, Prof Yadava spoke at length on the relevance of archaeology in history and threw significant light on various aspects of culture, society and religions of India. Referring to D P Dymond, Prof Yadava categorically stated that archaeological analysis and interpretation require certain parameters and standardized norms to be followed before reaching at any historical conclusion.

Archaeological date should be adequate, accurate and systematic to have any meaningful role in the reconstruction of the scientific methods like remote sensing and computer simulation should be used with caution and utmost objectivity as there are ways and means inherent in these methods to distort the evidence as was done by N Jha and N S Rajaram in the context of an Indus seal relating to controversial depiction of a horse. According to him scientific methods should be used with honesty and should be treated as means, not end in themselves.

Prof Yadava highlighted the relevance of literary data in the analysis and interpretation of archaeological evidences. He pointed out the fact that despite the use of archaeology and other scientific methods controversial issues remained difficult to solve. For example till date controversy remains as to the identify of Kapilvastu, despite several excavations being conducted by Nepalese and Indian governments at Tilaurakota and Pipprahwa respectively.

In his address, Prof R N Mishra dealt at length with the definition of art history as the specialised branch of archaeology. He said that need of the hour is to look at art evidences with new perspectives and create new questions while reconstructing past with the help of art history. Art study requires patience, time and institutional support system.

Knowledge of iconography, epigraphy and geographical, cultural and political zones of ancient times is necessary for a meaningful art study. Regional art styles have their value but within them one can search and identify several `Gharana' like art-idioms for which either a master artist or his group, family or a guild were responsible. Patronage in ancient Indian art is a neglected area and new researches ought to be taken in this important field, he pleaded.

Addressing the participants, Prof Misra, former head of the department, emphasised the relevance of the theme of the refresher course. Director, Academic Staff College, Prof K S Misra expressed happiness on the successful completion of the programme.

Prof Om Prakash, head of the department of ancient history welcomed the guests and coordinator Dr R P Tripathi thanked the participants of the refresher course. He stressed the need for proper interaction among teachers of different provinces such as Rajasthan, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhatisagarh.