An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c40.261

v2.c40.261

The aggradational and erosional processes have however produced two distinct terraces. The surface of the Older Alluvium occurs at elevations varying from 15 to 30 m above the bed level of the present Narmada. The Younger Alluvium forms an inset terrace at 8 to 10 m level above the bed level. Unpaired meandering terraces are also seen at a number of places where the tributaries meet the Narmada. A single ¹⁴C date (c. 32000 B.P.) of fresh-water shells collected from the gravel yielding Middle Palaeolithic tools, flourine and nitrogen tests carried out by Oakley on fossil bones from similar formations and the occurrence of animal species such as *Elephas maximus* and *Bos namadicus* indicate that the major part of the exposed Older Alluvium in the c. Narmada valley is of the late Pleistocene Age (less than 13000 years B.P.). The geologic formation of the Middle Pleistocene remains to be firmly established by geochronological methods.