An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c14.s8.t2.5

v1.c14.s8.t2.5

The important Quaternary units of n.-w. India are the Upper Siwaliks (semilacustrine and fluvial formations) and glacial and glaciofluvial formations. On the basis of palaeontological evidence the lower parts of the Upper Siwaliks, represented by the Pinjor Series, and the lower parts of the exposed *karewas*, known as lower *karewas*, are of the Lower Pleistocene Age. These lower *karewa* beds have yielded fossil leaf impressions of *Berboris ceratophylla* G. Don., *Hedera helix* Linn., *Betula utilis* D. Don, *Quercus incana* Roxb., *Viburnum stellulatum* Wall. Vell. aff., *Rhamnus purpurea* Edgew. and *Indigofera hebepetala* Benth. Similarly fossils like *Cervus*, *Rhinoceros*, *Bos*, *Sus*, *Elephas hysudricus*, *Equus Sivalensis*, *Sivatherium* and *Giraffa* emphasize the warm climatic characters. The climate during the Lower Pleistocene was in general more warm and moist. As mentioned above there is no convincing geological evidence to establish the Quaternary glaciation at altitudes lower than 2140 m in the whole of the sub-Himalayan region.