An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c20.s1.t3.9

v1.c20.s1.t3.9

A number of rich fossiliferous sites were discovered recently on the Manjra river, a major s. tributary of the GODAVARI. A large number of fossils of *Elephas maximus*, *Bubalus bubalis*, *Cervus unicolor*, *Cervus duvauceli*, *Bos namadicus* and *Equus namadicus* were discovered in the low-energy overbank flood deposits of the upper Manjra at Dhanegaon (18°36'; 76°10'), Wangdari (18°35'; 76°23'), Tadula (18°35'; 76°25'), and Ganjur (18°35'; 76°24') (Badam, 1976). The predominance of elephant fossils at Dhanegaon found in abandoned ox-bow lake formations and cattle fossils at Wangdari found in old channel deposits shows that the distribution of these animals was well controlled by local ecology. The dominance of the elephant suggests a heavily vegetated environment while that of the cattle indicates a savannah landscape. It is clear from the fauna that some of the fossils from the Manjra may well be the representatives of their living counterparts.