An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c14.s9.2

v1.c14.s9.2

Three types of terraces can be distinguished: (1) tectonic terraces formed due to the uplift or subsidence of a part of the river course; (2) eustatic terraces due to fluctuations of the sea level; and (3) climatic terraces formed due to glacial-interglacial or pluvial-interpluvial climatic conditions. No single process of terrace formation is exclusively effective in a particular region. For example in the Himalayan region the dominant action is tectonic, that of climatic change being subordinate; in the peninsular area however the terraces are formed mainly by climatic changes, while tectonic action is very mild. In coastal tracts like Saurashtra, although the marine and aeolian actions are evident in the shaping of the Quaternary landscape the effect of climatic variation and mild tectonic activity cannot be ruled out.