Event review: Central Narmada Basin Paleoanthropology Fieldschool

In comparison to other subjects in Indian archaeology and Quaternary studies, paleoanthropology has declined significantly in recent decades as a prominent academic discipline in the Indian Subcontinent. Most archaeological research and teaching in South Asia are largely focused on younger time periods, primarily the protohistoric or Chalcolithic and historical phases. In addition to lack of general interest and lack of popularization, another major reason for this decline in paleoanthropology may be the methodological challenges in interpreting complex paleoanthropological records, e.g., landform assemblage, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, assessing contextual integrity of the archaeological evidence (compared to younger sites) and so forth. Due to inadequate preserved evidence compared to younger archaeological sites, the study of human history during the Quaternary demands a multi-disciplinary approach with highly sophisticated and extensive field-based surveys and integrated scientific analyses from geological perspectives

Profiling of late Tertiary-early Quaternary surface in the lower reaches of Narmada valley using microtremors

In this paper, we propose the first approximation for thickness of Quaternary sediment and late Quaternary early Tertiary topography for the part of lower reaches of Narmada valley in a systematic way using the shallow seismic method, that records both horizontal and vertical components of the microtremor (ambient noise) caused by natural processes. The measurements of microtremors were carried out at 31 sites spaced at a grid interval of 5 km s using Lennartz seismometer (5 s period) and City shark-II data acquisition system. The signals recorded were analysed for horizontal to the vertical (H/V) spectral ratio using GEOPSY software. For the present study, we concentrate on frequency range between 0.2 Hz and 10 Hz. The thickness of unconsolidated sediments at various sites is calculated based on non-linear regression equations proposed by Ibs-von Seht and Wohlenberg (1999) and Parolai et al. (2002). The estimated thickness is used to plot digital elevation model and cross profiles correlating with geomorphology and geology of the study area. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

La campaña de excavación 2011 del North Gujarat Archaeological Project (NoGAP): metodología interdisciplinar para el estudio de contextos socio-ecológicos en el Holoceno

[EN] The fifth NoGAP fieldwork was carried out between November and December 2011 in North Gujarat (India). For the 2011 fieldwork there was the need of acquiring further data on the archaeology from the Holocene deposits, with a special focus on the record before the 5000 BC bracket, which testifies to the earliest occupation of this area. Furthermore, it was important to get a deeper understanding of the landscape evolution of the area as well as clarify the formation processes of the archaeological record together with the geoarchaeology.[ES] La quinta campaña del proyecto NoGAP se ha llevado a cabo entre noviembre y diciembre de 2011 en el norte del Gujarat (India). Para esta campaña existía la necesidad de seguir recopilando nuevos datos de los conjuntos arqueológicos provenientes de depósitos que se extienden a lo largo del Holoceno y que nos pudieran dar un registro más detallado de las primeras fases de ocupación del territorio (antes de ca. 5000 a. C.). Además, se necesitaba profundizar en el trabajo de entender la evolución del paisaje de esta zona y aclarar los procesos de formación de los depósitos arqueológicos junto con la parte geoarqueológica.Peer reviewe