An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c20.s1.t3.12

v1.c20.s1.t3.12

(e) Ghod valley: The GHOD is a tributary of the Bhima and detailed surveys both on the lower and upper reaches of the river have resulted in the find of abundant palaeontological material. The species identified are *Elephas maximus*, *Elephas* sp., *Bos namadicus*, *Bos*/*Bubalus*, *Hexaproton palaeindicus*, *Cervus unicolor*, *Equus namadicus*, *Equus asinus*, *Equus* sp. and *Canis* sp., (Kajale *et al*., 1976). The fossils have been collected from the gravel bed dated to about 20000 B.P. by ¹⁴C method on the basis of fresh-water molluscan shells. The discovery of *Hexaproton* is the first of its kind from the terrain s. of the Godavari valley and has a profound bearing on the palaeoenvironmental conditions of the GHOD VALLEY in the Upper Pleistocene. The sedimentary characters of the formations indicate that they were deposited either as a braid bar or point bar with a series of water pools in them. This is evidenced by the occurrence of lenticular bands of silt and clay in the pebble gravel. Such pools probably with tall grass cover might have provided a suitable habitat for water-loving animals such as *Hexaproton*. Though the animal inhabited swampy plain areas where sluggish water predominates, the presence of the remains of the elephant, horse, buffalo, cattle, deer, etc., in the valley indicates a tropical semi-arid savannah type of environment. The region experienced warm monsoonic climate with plateaux and low lands covered by dense tall grass and shrubs. The high-crowned nature of the teeth of almost all the animals which wear to a rasp-like chewing surface indicates a herbivorous diet.