[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.c17.s4.2 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s4.2 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s4.2 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c17.s4.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s4.2) No Palaeolithic \[4.2-4\] human remains have been found in India. The story begins with the succeeding Mesolithic period \[4.5\], when, the available evidence shows, by and large the dead were buried within the habitational areas, both inside rock-shelters and on open grounds, although it is possible that the actual place of burial was temporarily abandoned. The mode of the disposal of the dead body was inhumation. At SARAI NAHAR RAI, Dt Pratapgarh, more than a dozen graves have been excavated in a shallow mound located on the Baklahinala, a tributary of the Ganga. Although the graves were usually an oblong pit containing a single extended body placed in w.-e. orientation, the head being kept towards the w., there are a couple of examples of 'double' burial, i.e., instead of a single skeleton there were two. LANGHNAJ in Dt Mahesana and BAGOR in Dt Bhilwara are the two other open-air sites located on ancient sand-dunes. Both of them have single extended burials, although in neither case have all the bones been found intact. The former site gives evidence of slightly flexed burials also, which, if not accidental, is only a variety of complete inhumation. Both kinds of burials have been found in rock-shelters. At PANCHMARHI, Dt Hoshangabad, and BAGHAI KHOR and LEKHAHIA in Dt Mirzapur extended burials, sometimes in a slightly flexed manner, have been located within the habitational deposits. Although microliths have been reported from the earth removed from the graves, it cannot be said with certainty that they were placed there purposely as offerings. - [Previous: v1.c17.s4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s4.1) - [Next: v1.c17.s4.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s4.3) - [Up: v1.c17.s4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s4) ## Linked texts (5) - [Langhnaj](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.langhnaj) - [Baghai-Khor](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.baghai-khor) - [Lekhahia](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.lekhahia) - [Bagor](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.bagor) - [Sarai-nahar-rai](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.sarai-nahar-rai) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s4.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s4.2) · Pramāṇa