Glacio-archaeological evidence of permanent settlements within a glacier end moraine complex during 980-1840 AD: The Miyar Basin, Lahaul Himalaya, India

Abstract

This study presents glacio-archaeological evidence from the Miyar basin, Lahaul Himalaya, that points towards the former presence of a well settled agricultural society, within a glacier end moraine complex. Three high altitude villages (Tharang, Phundang and Patam, now in ruins) with elaborate irrigation networks thrived within the end moraine complex of Tharang glacier at 3700 m a.s.l. Evidence exists in the form of dilapidated houses which had an organised internal space, chronologically constrained by radiocarbon (14 C) dating. These settlements occupied the end moraine complex between 980 and 1840 CE, thereby encompassing the majority of Little Ice Age period (1300-1600 CE), as defined elsewhere. The existence of settlements along with an irrigation system and associate fields at $3700-3800 m a.s.l. for almost $860 years during the late 10 th to early 19 th centuries suggests more favourable climatic (warm) conditions that at present. By contrast, present habitation is restricted to areas below $3500 m a.s.l. However, the slope controlled irrigation system also suggests moisture stressed conditions during the 980-1840 CE period, similar to present. The available temperature and snowfall proxies for the region support our proposed timing, and suggest favourable climatic conditions for the survival of these settlements.

Little Ice Age Revealed in Tree‐Ring‐Based Precipitation Record From the Northwest Himalaya, India

“…LIA, Little Ice Age; pOcS, prior year October to current year September. that the settlement abandonment occurred during late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries due to reduced temperature and increased snowfall (Saini et al, 2019). The study of Qiao and Yi (2017) also found a significant role of precipitation in controlling the pattern of glaciation during the LIA over the Himalaya.…”

“…Saini et al. (2019) also marked the three sites of Tharang, Phundang and Patam (presently abandoned) showing settled agriculture coincident with warm temperature and limited snowfall. During 1300–1600 CE, there was no glacial expansion in the region and the period was generally warmer compared to the present day, which allowed permanent settlements within the end‐moraine complex.…”

“…The cool periods during early‐eighteenth to mid‐nineteenth century were consistent with our data. Based on the glacio‐archeological records, settled colonization has been identified within the glacial moraine complex of Tharang, Miyar basin, Lahaul Himalaya at more than 3,500 m asl during the late‐tenth to early‐nineteenth century (Saini et al., 2019). Saini et al.…”

Solid Waste Management in Indian Himalayan Region: Current Scenario, Resource Recovery, and Way Forward for Sustainable Development

“…The situation is worst during winters when heavy snowfall in the IHR cut-off many areas from the rest of the country. The temperature in the Himalayan region is typically cold (average maximum of 20°C and minimum −15°C) and offers sub-zero temperature conditions (Saini et al, 2019). These freezing conditions pose a technical challenge for efficient composting and sometimes may even lead to the failure of the composting process in the cold hilly regions (Hou et al, 2017).…”

“…It has been reported that IHR states like Jammu and Kashmir have made use of only 0.06% of total biogas plants installed in the country (Lohan et al, 2015). The foremost reason behind such a low number is the cold ambient temperature in IHR (Saini et al, 2019). The temperature plays a significant role in biogas production; hence, the cold temperature in IHR acts as a limiting factor in carrying out sufficient AD process (Lohan et al, 2015).…”