US

Parth Chauhan - Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali

https://iisermohali.academia.edu/httpwwwiisermohaliacinhtmlfacultyparthRChtml Archived on 2026-04-25 13:10 UTC

Parth Chauhan - Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali

Skip to main content

Parth Chauhan

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty Member

Followers

576

Following

18

Co-authors

5

Public Views

Interests

Uploads

Books by Parth Chauhan

Sourcebook of Paleolithic Transitions

New Perspectives on Old Stones: Analytical Approaches to Palaeolithic Technologies.

Papers by Parth Chauhan

Reconnaissance of Prehistoric Sites in the Red Sea Coastal Region of the Sudan, NE Africa

by Amanuel Beyin, Parth Chauhan, and Ahmed Nassr

JOURNAL OF FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY, 2019

This paper reports results of a recent Stone Age-focused archaeological survey in the Red Sea coa... more This paper reports results of a recent Stone Age-focused archaeological survey in the Red Sea coastal region of the Republic of Sudan, northeast Africa. Bifaces (handaxes) are the most conspicuous artifact class encountered during the survey and are characteristic of the Acheulean technocomplex. Other recorded artifact types include points, scrapers, and prepared core products referable to the Nubian and recurrent Levallois methods. Most of the artifact-bearing localities lie landward—outside of the coastal margin—thus, the evidence does not signify direct coastal adaptation per se. Our preliminary findings suggest that multiple Pleistocene-age hominin settlements tied to a terrestrial niche existed in the region. The western margin of the Red Sea occupies a pivotal location, linking the Horn of Africa and the Levant, two vital regions in human evolutionary research. Thus, the Stone Age data from the Sudan region has direct relevance for assessing hominin dispersal routes out of Africa.

New discovery of Acheulean occupation in the Red Sea coastal region of the Sudan

The western coastal zone of the Red Sea basin occupies a pivotal place in current discussions reg... more The western coastal zone of the Red Sea basin occupies a pivotal place in current discussions regarding hominin dispersal routes out of Africa. Its long coastal niche, which once extended into the Danakil Depression,1 as well as its proximity to prominent paleoanthropological sites in the Main Ethiopian and Afar rift basins, make the region a plausible destination for hominins dispersing from the interior landscapes of eastern Africa.2,3 Unfortunately, compared to other parts of East Africa, the region has not seen adequate paleoanthropological research, hindering detailed assessment of its contribution to hominin adaptations. A recent archeological reconnaissance in the Red Sea coastal region of the Republic of Sudan documented two characteristic Acheulean sites, named Hayna 01 and 02, as well as numerous isolated scatters of stone artifacts representing diverse technotypological features. The launching of this pioneering project was aimed at finding Paleolithic (Stone Age) sites that can inform us about Pleistocene hominin adaptations in the western peripheries of the Red Sea. The recovered evidence will be subsequently used to assess the role of the region in early hominin survival and dispersal. Of the two Acheulean-bearing sites documented by the survey, Hayna 01 (HY01) is discussed here. It has a surface lithic assemblage characterized by a classic
bifacial technology referable to the Acheulean Technocomplex.4,5

Human origins studies in India: position, problems and prospects

The Indian subcontinent contains one of the richest and continuous records of hominin behavior in... more The Indian subcontinent contains one of the richest and continuous records of hominin behavior in the Old World . This evidence is found in diverse paleoecological settings and temporal contexts (particularly in
India ), reflecting the successful adaptive strategies of South Asian hominins during the Pleistocene. More importantly, this evidence geographically links similar records of behavior from both the western and eastern parts of the Old World . Despite this significance, however, the subcontinent has received only marginal academic attention and, until recently, its behavioral record was not considered in general human
evolutionary syntheses. This is partly explained by the lack of early hominin fossils, a dearth of excavated sites and associated chronometric dates. These drawbacks are directly related to the lack of adequate funding and technical knowledge, complex bureaucracies, and a general lack of interest in paleoanthropology – all of which have hindered prehistoric research in South Asia , at varying levels.
Although Indian and Western researchers have recently begun to confront such problems through multidisciplinary excavations and international collaborations, the quality and frequency of this level of
research are minimal. Therefore, to foster the immense research and educational potential of South Asian paleoanthropology, greater emphasis needs to be placed (by both academic and government institutions) on the prioritization of research themes and the adoption of modern methodological techniques. This paper briefly reviews the salient features and academic status of the South Asian Paleolithic and its relevance in understanding human evolution in an Asian context. Associated problems (theoretical as well as practical) are discussed and broad solutions are introduced, to modernize and expand paleoanthropological studies in India.

A Decade of Paleoanthropology in the Indian Subcontinent (2005–2015)

Recently, there has been a significant increase in paleoanthropological research in India and the... more Recently, there has been a significant increase in paleoanthropological research in India and the surrounding regions, addressing a wide range of topics and research problems. For example, just the last decade has witnessed numerous publications-journal articles and edited volumes spanning the disciplines of Paleolithic and Mesolithic archaeologydescribing the results of new surveys, excavations, museum-based research, experimental archaeology, laboratory methods, and biographical sketches of important past scholars and their contributions (e.) have also recently been published. This chapter reviews the most recent important archaeological and associated evidence for paleoanthropology in South Asia (see Map 1), leaving aside the hominin fossil record (Sankhyan, Chapter 6 in this volume), the genetic evidence (e.g., Mellars et al., 2013; Stoneking, Chapter 4 in this volume), and recent work related to the migration routes for the peopling of South Asia (Korisettar, Chapter 5 in this volume), as these topics are reviewed elsewhere.

Fluvial deposits as an archive of early human activity: Progress during the 20 years of the Fluvial Archives Group

Fluvial sedimentary archives are important repositories for Lower and Middle Palaeolithic artefac... more Fluvial sedimentary archives are important repositories for Lower and Middle Palaeolithic artefacts throughout the 'Old World', especially in Europe, where the beginning of their study coincided with the realisation that early humans were of great antiquity. Now that many river terrace sequences can be reliably dated and correlated with the globally valid marine isotope record, potentially useful patterns can be recognized in the distribution of the find-spots of the artefacts that constitute the large collections that were assembled during the years of manual gravel extraction. This paper reviews the advances during the past two decades in knowledge of hominin occupation based on artefact occurrences in fluvial contexts, in Europe, Asia and Africa. As such it is an update of a comparable review in 2007, at the end of IGCP Project no. 449, which had instigated the compilation of fluvial records from around the world during 2000e2004, under the auspices of the Fluvial Archives Group. An overarching finding is the confirmation of the well-established view that in Europe there is a demarcation between handaxe making in the west and flakeecore industries in the east, although on a wider scale that pattern is undermined by the increased numbers of Lower Palaeolithic bifaces now recognized in East Asia. It is also apparent that, although it seems to have appeared at different places and at different times in the later Lower Palaeolithic, the arrival of Levallois technology as a global phenomenon was similarly timed across the area occupied by Middle Pleistocene hominins, at around 0.3 Ma.

Paleosol Carbonate and Pollen Evidence for Deforestation and Cooling in South Asia Caused by the Toba Super-Eruption: Implications for Human Evolution

The eruption of Toba, Sumatra, ~73,000 years ago was the largest explosive eruption of the past t... more The eruption of Toba, Sumatra, ~73,000 years ago was the largest explosive eruption of the past two million years. Its impacts on global and regional climate and on human evolution remain controversial. Ash from the Toba eruption crops out as channel-fill and lake basin deposits across peninsular India, and is present in marine sediment cores from the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the East China Sea. Ice core records show that this eruption marks a six-year-long volcanic winter, and the abrupt onset of an 1,800-year-long period of the coldest temperatures of the last 125,000 years. We present results of two independent lines of inquiry into the impact of this eruption and instant ice age on ecosystems in India and Sumatra. Pollen grains extracted from samples collected immediately beneath and above the Toba ash in two marine cores, one west of Sumatra, the other in the Bay of Bengal, show reduction of tree cover and cooling followed by prolonged drought after the eruption. Stable carbon isotopes of fossil soil carbonates directly beneath and above the Toba ash from three sites in the Son and Narmada valleys of central India show forests before the eruption and open or wooded grassland ecosystems after the eruption. Our results show that the Toba eruption was followed by more than a millennium of drier and cooler climate, with deforestation of some terrestrial ecosystems in South Asia. We hypothesise that other tropical ecosystems may also have been affected. Recent genetic bottlenecks and population subdivisions in humans and other species, and extinctions of several SE Asian mammals, may have been initiated by this event. The genetic structure of modern humans, the course of modern human behavioral evolution, and dispersals out of Africa may have been influenced by the environmental impact of the Toba eruption.

format_quoteStable carbon isotope analysis reveals Toba's eruption led to over a millennium of cooler, drier climate, impacting ecosystems across South Asia.format_quote

New geochronological, paleoclimatological, and archaeological data from the Narmada Valley hominin locality, central India

by Parth Chauhan and ashok sahni

Journal of Human Evolution, 2009

The oldest known fossil hominin in southern Asia was recovered from Hathnora in the Narmada Basin... more The oldest known fossil hominin in southern Asia was recovered from Hathnora in the Narmada Basin, central India in the early 1980's. Its age and taxonomic affinities, however, have remained uncertain. Current estimates place its maximum age at >236 ka, but not likely older than the early middle Pleistocene. The calvaria, however, could be considerably younger. We report recent fieldwork at Hathnora and associated Quaternary type-sections that has provided new geological and archaeological insights. The portion of the exposed 'Boulder Conglomerate' within the Surajkund Formation, which forms a relict terrace and has yielded the hominin fossils, contains reworked and stylistically mixed lithic artifacts and temporally mixed fauna. Three mammalian teeth stratigraphically associated with the hominin calvaria were dated by standard electron spin resonance (ESR). Assuming an early uranium uptake (EU) model for the teeth, two samples collected from the reworked surface deposit averaged 49 AE 1 ka (83 AE 2 ka, assuming linear uptake [LU]; 196 AE 7 ka assuming recent uptake [RU]). Another sample recovered from freshly exposed, crossbedded gravels averaged 93 AE 5 ka (EU), 162 AE 8 ka (LU) or 407 AE 21 ka (RU). While linear uptake models usually provide the most accurate ages for this environment and time range, the EU ages represent the minimum possible age for fossils in the deposit. Regardless, the fossils are clearly reworked and temporally mixed. Therefore, the current data constrains the minimum possible age for the calvaria to 49 AE 1 ka, although it could have been reworked and deposited into the Hathnora deposit any time after 160 ka (given the LU uptake ages) or earlier (given the RU ages). At Hathnora, carbonaceous clay, bivalve shells, and a bovid tooth recovered from layers belonging to the overlying Baneta Formation have yielded 14 C ages of 35.66 AE 2.54 cal ky BP, 24.28 AE 0.39 cal ky BP, and 13.15 AE 0.34 ky BP, respectively. Additional surveys yielded numerous lithics and fossils on the surface and within the stratigraphic sequence. At the foot of the Vindhyan Hills 2 km from the river, we recovered a typologically Early Acheulean assemblage comprised of asymmetrical bifaces, large cleavers with minimal working, trihedral picks, and flake tools in fresh condition. These tools may be the oldest Acheulean in the Narmada Valley. Several lithics recovered from the Dhansi Formation may represent the first unequivocal evidence for an early Pleistocene hominin presence in India. In situ invertebrate and vertebrate fossils, pollen, and spores indicate a warm, humid climate during the late middle Pleistocene. High uranium concentrations in the mammalian teeth indicate exposure to saline water, suggesting highly evaporative conditions in the past. Late Pleistocene sediment dated between 24.28 AE 0.39 cal ky BP and 13.15 AE 340 ky BP has yielded pollen and spores indicating cool, dry climatic conditions corresponding to Oxygen Isotope Stage 2 (OIS 2). An early Holocene palynological assemblage from the type locality at Baneta shows evidence for relatively dry conditions and a deciduous forest within the region. The Dhansi Formation provisionally replaces the Pilikarar Formation as the oldest Quaternary formation within the central Narmada Basin. The Baneta Formation, previously dated at 70 ka to 128 ka, correlates with the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. Our results highlight the need for further Quaternary geological and paleoanthropological research within the Narmada Basin, especially because dam construction threatens these deposits.

Genes, Stone Tools, and Modern Human Dispersals in the Center of the Old World

by Parth Chauhan, Shantanu Ozarkar, and Shaunak Kulkarni

Emergence and Diversity of Modern Human Behavior in Paleolithic Asia, Jan 2015

This paper broadly reviews the current status and problems with various hypotheses related to mo... more This paper broadly reviews the current status and problems
with various hypotheses related to modern human
dispersals and evolution in the Indian subcontinent.
The focus is mainly on the available archaeological and
genetic evidence. The currently known Middle / Upper
Paleolithic archaeological records are complex, inconclusive,
and not dated well enough to reliably assume
that most or all such assemblages were produced exclusively
by modern humans. Some or all of the Middle
Paleolithic evidence may even belong to nonmodern
groups. Current problems also exist with regard to the
techno-
chronological
definition and recognition of the
Upper Paleolithic as a typomorphological marker for
“modern human behavior” and cognition as compared
with comparable contemporaneous evidence from Europe
and Africa. Likewise, the known South Asian genetic
evidence continues to be ambiguous with regard
to patterns of early arrival, subsequent dispersal within
the region and possible interbreeding with preexisting
regional nonmodern populations. At present, the only
reliable evidence is the fossil evidence and microlithic
archaeological evidence, which collectively suggest the
presence of modern human populations in South Asia
by at least 45 ka. In conclusion, various subthemes and
issues related to “out of Africa 3” and the Indian subcontinent,
are also highlighted and briefly discussed
(e.g., Middle Paleolithic and hominin species, dispersal
routes taken, cultural and dispersal implications of
ostrich eggshells).

Key Evolutionary Transformations in Homo sapiens

International Journal of …, Jan 1, 2011

The origin of modern humans remains a central question of palaeoanthropology-the discipline devot... more The origin of modern humans remains a central question of palaeoanthropology-the discipline devoted to the scientific investigation of human evolution. This research field, like the questions it asks and evidence it draws upon, is multidisciplinary and synthetic in nature. Palaeoanthropology is also in the mist of a transformation, from a once largely descriptive and discovery driven enterprise to a discipline integrating the methods and results of cutting edge discoveries in 3D modeling and morphometrics, genomic sequencing, including ancient DNA and geochronology and isotope geochemistry, among others. Thus, the unfolding story of recent human evolution is as much about the transformation of the history of human evolution research as it is about the evidence and narratives we weave about of our origins.

Inter-disciplinary Perspectives on Indian Paleoanthropology and Prehistory

Quaternary International, Jan 1, 2012

Analytical Approaches to Palaeolithic Technologies: An Introduction

New Perspectives on Old Stones, Jan 1, 2010

We believe that it is instructive and timely to revisit themes that David L. Clarke (1968) raised... more We believe that it is instructive and timely to revisit themes that David L. Clarke (1968) raised in Analytical Archaeology. Here, we examine the extent to which they are being pursued by the contributors of this volume in the context of Palaeolithic studies. In highlighting certain "Clarkeian" trends, we discuss four themes: (1) hypothesis testing and formal analysis, (2) quantification and inferential statistical analysis, (3) models, (4) cultural transmission and lineages of artefactual traditions and (5) morphometrics.

format_quoteBuchanan and Collard's study found that shape information classifies Palaeoindian projectile points by type with high accuracy using discriminant function analysis.format_quote

Metrical Variability Between South Asian Handaxe Assemblages: Preliminary Observations

New Perspectives on Old Stones, Jan 1, 2010

The Indian subcontinent represents the easternmost abundant source of classic Acheulean technolog... more The Indian subcontinent represents the easternmost abundant source of classic Acheulean technology in the Old World. Since the late nineteenth century, a large number of Acheulean sites have been reported from India, Pakistan, and most recently Nepal. This study focuses exclusively on handaxes and attempts to respectively compare published metrical data from individual assemblages and groups of assemblages with each other, using univariate and multivariate statistical methods (cluster analyses and the Mann-Whitney U test). The five main variables that are examined include mean values of handaxe length, breadth, thickness, and elongation and "refinement," to reveal levels of statistical metric differences between handaxe groups and associated typological and geographic patterns. Preliminary results indicate that many of these handaxe assemblages are not metrically distinguishable as strictly Early or Late Acheulean types, as has been done in the past. While the handaxe assemblages geographically closest to each other broadly cluster together at the locality level (albeit inconsistently), there are significant statistical differences between groups of assemblages at interregional levels. This indicates that there was marked geographic and probably chronological overlap in the degrees of metric variation across the entire Indian subcontinent, possibly reflecting a dynamic intermediate developmental phase within the region following initial colonization by Acheulean hominins.

format_quoteStatistical correlations among metric variables indicate South Asian handaxes are comparable to standard Acheulean metrics globally.format_quote

Paleolithic Exploitation of Rounded and Sub‐Angular Quartzites in the Indian Subcontinent

Lithic materials and Paleolithic societies, Jan 1, 2009

The Indian subcontinent is geographically constrained by high altitude mountain ranges in the nor... more The Indian subcontinent is geographically constrained by high altitude mountain ranges in the north (the Himalayas) and the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal, to the west, south, and east, respectively. Within this large land-mass, there exists a diverse range of eco-zones which contain a host of raw material resources that were exploited in different ways by Pleistocene hominins. These sources occur in diverse environmental settings comprising fluvial, colluvial, and erosional deposits. Lithic raw material was a prime factor governing the dynamics of hominin ranging patterns and the majority of the Paleolithic evidence can be directly or indirectly linked to these sources, illustrating key changes and differences in patterns of raw material selection, acquisition, and processing. Overall, it is clear that there are three distinct morphological groups of raw material clasts that have been utilized throughout prehistory: (i) fluviallyrounded pebbles and cobbles, (ii) fluvially-rounded and sub-rounded cobbles and boulders, and (iii) tabular slabs and angular fragments. This chapter addresses the variable modes of exploitation of rounded and sub-angular quartzite in the Indian subcontinent in relation to morphological forms, size, and associated geological contexts. The behavioral evidence from select Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic sites throughout the region suggests clast-size preference, multiple levels of technological acumen, and ecological adaptive strategies such as varied transport behaviors and site selection. Some sites discussed are: Riwat, Pabbi Hills, Toka, and Site 55 in the Siwalik Hills; Singi Talav in the Thar Desert; Kalpi in the Indo-Gangetic plains; Durkadi, Pilikarar, and Samnapur in the Narmada Basin; and Attirampakkam in the Kortallayar Basin.

format_quoteThe Soanian evidence shows extensive use of pebble and cobble raw materials, rich in quartzite, enhancing archaeological understanding of hominin resource utilization.format_quote

The Narmada Basin Palaeoanthropology Project in central India

Antiquity, Jan 1, 2008

. Location map of the sites discussed in the study area.

The South Asian Paleolithic record and its potential for transitions studies

Sourcebook of Paleolithic Transitions, Jan 1, 2009

The Indian subcontinent contains a rich and continuous behavioral record of hominin occupation si... more The Indian subcontinent contains a rich and continuous behavioral record of hominin occupation since at least the early Middle Pleistocene. All lithic assemblages demonstrate the presence of Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic features and variable patterns of blank reduction, being in general congruence with other parts of the Old World. However, empirical lacunae continue to persist, such as the lack of absolute dates for many important sites and well-excavated spatial information. As a result, it has been challenging to assess the timings and nature of these technological transitions and compare that data with other regions. Although broad ages have been assigned to most assemblages on the basis of lithic typology, stratigraphy, and biochronology, they are inadequate when discussing the precise causes of the behavioral shifts and resulting adaptive strategies. Accumulated data, to date, reflect diverse techniques of raw material acquisition, transport, and reduction. The few stratified sites that have yielded evidence of technological phases include both open-air and rockshelter/cave contexts. Both the Lower to Middle and Middle to Upper Paleolithic transitions vary at an interregional level, particularly in peninsular India. This probably reflects the collective impact of a suite of factors: demography, raw material type, topographical prominence, water resources, cognitive capabilities, mobility and settlement patterns, and subsequent hominin dispersals from peripheral regions. This paper discusses the dynamic character of the archaeological record in Pleistocene South Asia and attempts to highlight key behavioral changes. From a broader comparative perspective, the general contextual, technological, and chronological attributes are also discussed for the best-known sites.

Early Homo occupation near the gate of tears: Examining the paleoanthropological records of Djibouti and Yemen

Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Oldowan, Jan 1, 2009

The Bab al-Mandab region has often been considered a primary crossing point for early hominins fo... more The Bab al-Mandab region has often been considered a primary crossing point for early hominins following a southern coastal route from East Africa to South and Southeast Asia. However, surprisingly little work has been done in the countries of Djibouti and Yemen, both of which hold the key to our understanding of the chronological, paleoenvironmental and adaptive contexts of such early movements. As a result, detailed and accurate information about hominin subsistence, raw material exploitation, climatic adaptations, and the rate and success of early dispersals in such regions still remain poorly understood. Being a part of the Rift Valley, Djibouti shows great potential for paleoanthropological research in parity with the rest of East Africa. Only one Oldowan site, near Lake Abbé, is currently known and dated to between 1.6 and 1.3 Ma by ESR, with presumably butchered remains of Elephas recki ileretensis and hundreds of artifacts on lavas. In addition, a complete articulated skeleton of Elephas recki recki was found in clays of the comparatively younger Gobaad Formation. Previous investigators have also reported a fragmentary maxilla, attributed to an older form of Homo sapiens and dated to ~250 Ka, from the valley of the Dagadlé Wadi. In Yemen and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, archaeological investigations by numerous workers have yielded an abundance of Lower Paleolithic sites near the mountains and on fan surfaces, particularly in the Hadramaut area and the Tihama Plains, including the Al-Guza cave site with possible Oldowan artifacts. Surveys 25 to 40 km inland from the Gulf of Aden, South of Yemen, have yielded almost 40 Lower Paleolithic sites, including several Oldowan sites. Despite these commendable efforts, however, vast parts of both Djibouti and Yemen remain largely unexplored and much of the known evidence from both regions has not been absolutely dated or excavated. Until this is done, such data lend little support to early dispersal models that incorporate a southern coastal route to Southeast Asia during the Late Pliocene. This paper attempts to highlight and assess the earliest-known Mode 1 and Mode 2 evidence from Djibouti and Yemen, and correlate them with the available Plio-Pleistocene environmental records of the Bab al-Mandab region. Another objective is to provide a detailed synthesis of the original French publications on the paleoanthropological evidence from Djibouti, thus making it more widely available for comparative purposes.

Gudrun Corvinus (1932–2006)—Pioneering paleoanthropologist

Quaternary International, Jan 1, 2008

Reply to the comment on “Environmental impact of the 73ka Toba super-eruption in South Asia” by MAJ Williams, SH Ambrose, S. van der Kaars, C. Ruehlemann, U. …

Palaeogeography, …, Jan 1, 2010

Haslam and Petraglia raise three broad questions concerning our paper 'Environmental impact of th... more Haslam and Petraglia raise three broad questions concerning our paper 'Environmental impact of the 73 ka Toba super-eruption in South Asia', by Martin A. J. Williams, Stanley H. Ambrose, Sander van der Kaars, Carsten Ruehlemann, Umesh Chattopadhyaya, Jagannath Pal, Parth R. Chauhan [Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 284 (2009) 295-314]. (a) What was the relationship between the ∼ 73 ka Toba eruption and the cold stade between the Dansgaard-Oeschger interstades 20 and 19? (b) What was the regional impact of the eruption on vegetation? (c) What was the possible effect of the eruption upon humans and mammals? In response to questions (a) and (b) we note that the ∼ 73 ka Toba eruption was followed by several centuries of intense cooling and wind-blown dust accession in the Greenland GISP2 ice core, by a change from forest to grassland or open woodland in central India (carbon isotopic analysis) and in the wider region (pollen analysis of a marine sediment core in the Bay of Bengal). In regard to (c), the genetic evidence is as yet too imprecisely dated to demonstrate causality as is the archaeological evidence cited by Haslam and Petraglia in favour of minimal impact. Future work supported by higher resolution chronologies than are presently available is needed to provide a less equivocal picture of the environmental impact of the ∼ 73 ka Toba eruption.

Same domain → Similar titles →