An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c14.s8.t4.12

v1.c14.s8.t4.12

Against this background the activities of the contemporary man have to be conjectured. The climatic change by itself was not acute enough to cause extinction or total migration. It is important however that heavy rainfall forced them into caves and rock-shelters. As there is no discernible geological Holocene deposit excepting the flood deposits on the river-bank caves are the only place where a stratified existence of the Early Holocene industries can be found. In this connection the finds at BHIMBETKA are important. The foothills on both sides of the NARMADA give better stratifications than the caves where formations did not change. Yet the industry which appears to belong to the Early Holocene is found only in the caves and not at other places in the neighbourhood. These industries obviously would have a close and genetic relationship with the Upper Mesolithic industries if they were not immigrant. In the plains a few vestiges of these industries may be found. They would obviously be surface finds. Posting them against river terraces would have no significant meaning outside the periglacial area.