Spatial distribution of Palaeolithic sites in relation to raw material sources in the central Narmada valley, India

Landscape adaptation in central India is quite exceptional as more than 300 Lower Palaeolithic occurrences have been reported in different contexts. The present work deals with these assemblages and associated raw material sources in central Narmada valley. The central Narmada valley is rich in various rock types which were used as raw material by various hominin populations. Narmada River divides the region into northern and southern parts. In the north, there are mainly the Vindhyan Supergroup and Deccan Trap, whereas, in the south, there are primarily the Gondwana Supergroup, Deccan Trap and the Mahakoshal Group. Along the river, there are exposures of Vindhyan Supergroup and thick deposits of Quaternary alluvium. The main raw material types in the north of Narmada are quartzite and sandstone (Vindhyan Supergroup), whereas, in the south of Narmada, the main raw materials are quartzite (Gondwana Supergroup) and chert (Deccan Trap). Acheulean sites are mostly found along the foothills of Vindhyan as well as along the banks of the Narmada River and its tributaries. In this chapter, the author has tried to link these raw material sources with the occurrences of Palaeolithic sites to have a better understanding of past hominin land use patterns and ecological adaptations.