[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c14.s2.12 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c14.s2.12 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c14.s2.12 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c14.s2.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c14.s2.12) Since 1977 a team comprising S.N. Rajaguru of the Deccan College, Ḍ.P. Agrawal of the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, and the writer has been engaged in a project on the early man and his environment in n.-w. India. It has carried out extensive exploration in Dts Sirohi, Pali, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Jaisalmer, Barmer and Jalor for the study of the distribution, morphology and stratigraphy of sand-dunes, collection of geomorphic and sedimentological data from wells, river sections, quarries and dune cuttings, and location and excavation of early occupation sites. In the January-1980 fieldwork, the team was joined by Gurdip Singh, palynologist, and R.J. Wasson, geomorphologist, of the Australian National Univ., Canberra. The main findings of this team so far are as follows: (1) There is only one major phase of dune formation in w. Rajasthan. The manifestation of this phase is best seen in the w. part of Dts Jaisalmer and Barmer. (2) This arid phase was followed by a wet climate which led to considerable weathering and compacting of the dune surface. This weathered horizon seems to extend over the entire arid zone as it has been seen at such far-flung places as Budha Pushkar near Ajmer, Nawa on the n.-w. shore of Sambhar lake, Didwana, Dhechu s. of Phalodi, Sam w. of Jaisalmer, a point 50 km s. of Jaisalmer on the way to Barmer and several other places further s. and w. Although occasionally large flakes and cores are found on this weathered horizon, the industries most commonly associated with it are those of geometric microliths. (3) Near Jayal in Dt Nagaur a more than 10 km long and over 50 m high ridge of well-rounded pebbles and boulders of metamorphic quartzites has been located. The surface of this ridge has a thick concentration of Acheulian industry \[4.2\]. Acheulian tools also occur to a depth of 50 cm within the ridge (4) At Didwana a rich early Acheulian industry occurs in alluvial clayey and sandy deposits overlain by blown sand. (5) Stratigraphic observation and preliminary study of sediment samples collected from freshly dug wells in the Didwana lake suggest that the lake existed before 1000 years but it had a very fluctuating water regime. - [Previous: v1.c14.s2.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c14.s2.11) - [Next: v1.c14.s2.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c14.s2.13) - [Up: v1.c14.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c14.s2) ## Linked texts (7) - [Didwana](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.didwana) - [Nawa](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.nawa) - [Budha Pushkar](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.budha-pushkar) - [Dhechu](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.dhechu) - [Jayal](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.jayal) - [Sam](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.sam) - [Sambhar](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.sambhar) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c14.s2.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c14.s2.12) · Pramāṇa