Syllabus

GS 1: The salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. 

Context: 

Researchers have found that the Kutch region of Gujarat was home to prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities much before the Harappan era.

More on the News  

• Researchers have found rare archaeological evidence of prehistoric human settlements in the Kutch region, predating the Harappan era by at least 5,000 years.
• The study reveals that ancient hunter-gatherer communities inhabited mangrove-dominated landscapes and relied heavily on shell species for sustenance.
• The shell samples collected from Khadir and nearby islands in Kutch were analysed at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad. 

The study was conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) in collaboration with:

• IIT Kanpur (IITK)
• Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), Delhi
• Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad.

Key Discoveries of the Study

Shell Scatters and Middens: Heaps of discarded shells from human consumption identified as shell midden sites, the first of their kind in Kutch.

• These shell midden sites show similarities with coastal archaeological sites in Las Bela and Makran regions (Pakistan), and Oman Peninsula.
• Midden sites are archaeological sites where large quantities of marine shells, along with bones, tools, and pottery are typically found.
• This suggests that early coastal communities across this broader region may have developed comparable strategies for food collection and survival.

Stone Tools: A variety of tools used for cutting, scraping, and splitting, along with used cores, were also discovered This suggests that the communities engaged in the prolific manufacture of implements for daily tasks.Cultural Evolution:

• Evidence suggests a gradual, locally rooted process of cultural development rather than abrupt urban influence from Sindh as previously believed.

Influences on Later Cultures:

• The region’s accumulated knowledge of local geology, water resources, and navigation may have later helped the Harappans plan their settlements more effectively and engage in long-distance trade.

Key Scientific Methods Used for Research

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS):

• Used to date the shell remains by measuring Carbon-14 (C-14) isotopes.
• C-14 levels calibrated using tree ring data to construct an accurate atmospheric timeline.

Shell Sample Analysis:

• Conducted at PRL, Ahmedabad and IUAC, Delhi.
• Provided chronological context to the archaeological sites.

Importance for Climate Research

• Shell middens could be valuable for palaeoclimate reconstruction.
• Previous IITGN studies have mapped the climate history of Khadir Island over the past 11,500 years.
• Shells preserve environmental signals, offering insights into the climatic conditions faced by early humans.
• Ancient communities adapted to different climatic zones without modern technologies.
• Their ecological awareness and sustainable practices provide lessons for addressing today’s climate challenges.

UPSC Mains Practice Question 

Q. Discuss the significance of the recent archaeological discoveries in the Kutch region in understanding India’s prehistoric human settlements. How do such findings contribute to our knowledge of cultural evolution and climate adaptation in ancient times?