The oldest hominid fossil discovered in India- partial calvarium of Homo erectus narmadensis from upper narmada valley
1.5- 3 lakh years old
1.5- 3 lakh years old
It was a female specimen. It had a very unusual cranial capacity-1155 -1421 cm3, within the range of anatomically archaic Homo sapiens
Have you ever wondered- what's the world's oldest example of 'art'?
By definition, art is aesthetic & non-utilitarian(cute & useless iow)
The first hominid creation which fits this definition is in Madhya Pradesh. In the cupules of the auditorium cave at Bhimbetka.
Cupule No 5-
By definition, art is aesthetic & non-utilitarian(cute & useless iow)
The first hominid creation which fits this definition is in Madhya Pradesh. In the cupules of the auditorium cave at Bhimbetka.
Cupule No 5-
The minimum age obtained by stratigraphic analysis may well exceed 200,000 years- They belong to the lower paleolithic! The oldest suggested dates reach 700,000 years BP! Newer dating methods may be required for a satisfactory answer.
Still, they are the oldest in the world!
Still, they are the oldest in the world!
The next oldest specimens of engraved rocks comes from Blombos caves in South Africa & is only ~70,000 years old.
Below is an Acheulean handaxe found in situ at Bhimbetka, tightly held in place by 2 layers of rocks, helping us discern the upper limit of habitation in that section
Below is an Acheulean handaxe found in situ at Bhimbetka, tightly held in place by 2 layers of rocks, helping us discern the upper limit of habitation in that section
Madhya Pradesh boasts of other extremely antique examples from the lower Paleolithic. Below are cupules from the Darakki-Chattan caves, which also has very old petroglyphs & paintings.
Indian prehistory is VERY crucial for the human story, yet it remains so clouded in mystery :(
Indian prehistory is VERY crucial for the human story, yet it remains so clouded in mystery :(
A 67 million years old tree fossil from the Mesozoic era(250 to ~65 million years ago has been discovered in Shimla dist of Himachal pradesh. Breathtaking discovery! Look at mammoth gymnosperm trapped and merged inside layers of rock.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/over-67-million-year-old-tree-fossil-found-in-shimla-district/767138.html
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/over-67-million-year-old-tree-fossil-found-in-shimla-district/767138.html
The oldest engraved object ever discovered in India?
An ostrich eggshell discovered from Patne(Maharashtra?) dating back to 25,000 years BP may be it. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.researchgate.net/figure/Engravings-on-ostrich-eggshell-fragment-Patne-western-India-early-Upper-Palaeolithic_fig2_247847297/amp
An ostrich eggshell discovered from Patne(Maharashtra?) dating back to 25,000 years BP may be it. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.researchgate.net/figure/Engravings-on-ostrich-eggshell-fragment-Patne-western-India-early-Upper-Palaeolithic_fig2_247847297/amp
Fossil of 'Earth's oldest animal', dating back to the Cambrian( 550 million years BP), found in Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh.
https://journalsofindia.com/dickinsonia-in-bhimbetka/
https://journalsofindia.com/dickinsonia-in-bhimbetka/
“Unlike Africa where stone tools are found with skeletons.. India we find prehistoric tools but no fossil evidence” http://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/loneliness-of-narmada-human-39817
The oldest stone axe ever discovered in India comes from Attirampakkam, TN. It dates back to the Acheulian- a whopping 1.7 million years old.
And NO! in case you wonder, they were NOT made by Homo sapiens, but another species, probably Homo erectus https://www.livehistoryindia.com/amazing-india/2017/07/21/finding-indias-earliest-settlement
And NO! in case you wonder, they were NOT made by Homo sapiens, but another species, probably Homo erectus https://www.livehistoryindia.com/amazing-india/2017/07/21/finding-indias-earliest-settlement