An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c14.s8.t2.12

v1.c14.s8.t2.12

The Quaternary history of Rajasthan is complex. The Aravallis divide Rajasthan approximately into two parts, of which w. Rajasthan is mostly a desert [9.2] and the rivers are completely filled with sands hiding the earlier Quaternary deposits, while in e. Rajasthan rivers like the Chambal and Banas have preserved the deposits which yield Early Palaeolithic tools [4.2]. The sequence and characters of the Pleistocene deposits in w. Rajasthan are not much different from those of peninsular India and show the same features of aggradation and degradation and absence of fossil record. The results obtained by geomorphic and sedimentological studies [7.4] indicate an arid climate during the early Quaternary times as revealed at Budha Pushkar when the area was occupied by Lower Palaeolithic people. In the late Quaternary, between about 20000 and 40000 years, when the Middle Palaeolithic [4.3] cultures were prevalent the climate was humid as deduced from the buried soils, as well as from well-integrated drainage system revealed by photogeological studies and by the occurrence of rolled gravels in the present desertic region. In the subsequent period this region experienced extremely arid conditions during which the dune activity got intensified. The palaeontological evidence also supports this Late Pleistocene arid phase. This was followed by an arid phase to which belong the Upper Palaeolithic [4.4] cultures.