An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c20.s1.t3.8

v1.c20.s1.t3.8

The alluvial deposits of the GODAVARI VALLEY were earlier believed to be equivalent to the Narmada deposits (Pilgrim, 1905). However recent biostratigraphical studies support the general observations that though the Upper Pleistocene alluvia are well-preserved in the shallow valley of the Deccan, there is no convincing evidence for the presence of Middle Pleistocene formations in the Godavari valley. It is therefore necessary to revise the earlier views on the so-called Middle Pleistocene fauna discovered in the Deccan in general and in the GODAVARI VALLEY in particular. As far as the Godavari valley proper is concerned there is only a single ¹⁴C date of about 19000B.C. for the upper part of the calcareous alluvium exposed around PAITHAN (Corvinus *et al.*, 1972-3). A few semirolled Middle Palaeolithic tools along with the limb bones of *Bos* sp. were collected from the sands and gravels occurring slightly below this well-dated formation (Rajaguru, 1968-9). The author who has made a morphological study of fossils collected from the Older Alluvium of the upper Godavari valley assigns the alluvium to the Upper Palaeolithic tools along with the limb bones of *Bos* sp. found along with Lower Palaeolithic tools of Late Acheulian characters at GANGAPUR, *Elephas namadicus*, *Equus namadicus* and *Bos namadicus* found in association with Lower and Middle Palaeolithic tools in the Older Alluvium around NEVASA in the PRAVARA valley and in the upper GODAVARI are in fact the Middle Pleistocene holdovers in the Upper Pleistocene period. This hypothesis is supported by a well-dated jaw of *Bos namadicus* (32000 B.P.) recovered from the buried channel, about 30 m below the surface of the Mula, one of the s. tributaries of the upper Godavari (Rajaguru, 1970). Further, a few ¹⁴C assays on fresh-water shells and driftwood found in the older alluvial fills from the source region of the GODAVARI (Rajaguru and Badam, 1976) confirm the general dating of the exposed alluvial fills to the Upper Pleistocene only.