Neolithic cultural sites and extreme climate related channel avulsion: Evidence from the Vaigai River Basin, southern India

Ramkumar, Mu.; Kumaraswamy, K.; Balasubramani, K.; Nagarajan, R.; Santosh, M.; Rahman, Suriah Abdul; Prasad, Kumar Arun; Juni, K.J.; Fathima, Al.; Siddiqui, Numair Ahmed; Mathew, Manoj Joseph; Menier, David; Sautter, Benjamin; Sharma, Rajveer; Kumar, Pankaj; Chopra, Sundeep; Jegankumar, R.

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103204

Cited by 3 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…The archaeological excavations at Keezhadi and Agaram were chosen for sediment sampling as per Ramkumar et al (2021). A total of 62 sediment samples were collected from three pits (5 from Keezhadi pit-1, 30 from Keezhadi pit-2 and 27 from Agaram pit).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ramkumar et al (2016) demonstrated its genesis during Precambrian and continued activism until recently. The palaeochannel courses recognized in the vicinity of the present-day Vaigai River channel recognized through remote sensing, digital image processing and field mapping (see for details Ramkumar et al, 2021;Ramkumar, Balasubramani, et al, 2022) and the locations of geoarchaeological excavations and sampling are also indicated in this figure . basin morphology was probably caused by techno-morphological events (Juni et al, 2022;Ramkumar et al, 2019). The tectonic evolution led to a continental arc above a subduction zone and the Karur-Kambam-Painavu-Trichur shear zone (KKPT) divided the Archean and Proterozoic rocks in this basin (Ghosh et al, 2004).…”

Section: Regional Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All the radiocarbon ages (BP) were calibrated to the calendar years (BCE/CE) using OxCal (v 4.4.4) software and Bayesian age-depth modelling (Bronk Ramsey, 2009). In addition, chronological timelines from previous publications were also referred in this study (Ramkumar et al, 2019(Ramkumar et al, , 2021Ramkumar, Balasubramani, et al, 2022).…”

Section: Geochronologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The changes in land-forming processes, especially through the catastrophic floods, caused by tectonics along with climate, have also played a major role in the demise/ burial of ancient civilization sites (Field et al, 2007;Ramkumar et al, 2019). The unforeseen responses of bed elevation to climate change have important implications for the survival-demise/burial along the river banks (Slater & Singer, 2013;Thakur et al, 2016;Ramkumar et al, 2015Ramkumar et al, , 2021. The Indus civilization was river-based as two of its largest and most well-known cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, were situated next to the perennial Himalayan rivers (Possehl, 2002;Singh et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The demises of major civilizations across the globe have been clubbed into the 8.2 and 4.2 ka events (for example, Bar-Matthews & Ayalon, 2011;de Menocal, 2001;Madella & Fuller, 2006;McIntosh, 2007;Perry & Hsu, 2000;Possehl, 2002;Ristvet & Weiss, 2005;Stanley et al, 2003;Staubwasser et al, 2003;Staubwasser & Weiss, 2006;Weiss, 2000;Weiss et al, 1993;Weninger et al, 2006). Some of the religious-cultural sites buried under the flood deposits of the Cauvery River and at the apex of the Vaigai River delta were recently unearthed (Ramkumar et al, 2018(Ramkumar et al, , 2021. These eastflowing, major river systems of southern India have also evidence of ancient (Micro-Neolithic) habitation sites marooned under the historic-prehistoric flood deposits (Figure 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tectono‐climatic and depositional environmental controls on the Neolithic habitation sites, Vaigai River Basin, Southern India

Ramkumar,

Nagarajan,

Juni

et al. 2024

Geological Journal

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The establishment, development and abandonment and/or destruction of ancient civilizations were catalytically controlled by geomorphic features such as lakes and rivers and the climate. This paper examined the possible influence of tectonism and climate on six habitations of the ancient Vaigai River Basin civilization in South India, using multiple proxies such as grain size, geochronology and geochemistry of the sedimentary archives. The tectonic setting of the basin changed between the active margin and passive margin; the discriminant diagrams suggested varying provenance and changing climatic conditions over the mid‐ and‐late Holocene. Tectonic activism and quiescence, base‐level change in the channel morphology led to the burial/marooning of the first habitation surface. Overall, arid conditions were punctuated with catastrophic flooding and peak discharge (flood) destroyed the second, third and fourth habitation sites. These flooding events were characterized by moderate weathering (CIA) and high values of Al, Fe and Rb/Sr and low Ca/Mg in the sediment records. The abandonment/destruction of the fifth habitation also occurred during an arid interval (droughts), possibly caused by weak monsoon. Along with the interactions between tectono‐climatic and fluvial geomorphic factors, the new results provided avenues to (a) check and recognize the archives for 8.2 and 4.2 ka‐like events in this part of the world, and (b) the utility of integrated analyses to constrain on the civilizational histories of the mankind.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Regional Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geochronologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tectono‐climatic and depositional environmental controls on the Neolithic habitation sites, Vaigai River Basin, Southern India

Ramkumar,

Nagarajan,

Juni

et al. 2024

Geological Journal

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Episodic habitation and abandonment of Neolithic civilization sites in the Vaigai River Basin, Southern India

Ramkumar

Balasubramani

Kumaraswamy

et al. 2022

Geosystems and Geoenvironment

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Application of Multi-Temporal and Multisource Satellite Imagery in the Study of Irrigated Landscapes in Arid Climates

Buławka,

Orengo

2024

Remote Sensing

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The study of ancient irrigation is crucial in the archaeological research of arid regions. It covers a wide range of topics, with the Near East being the focus for decades. However, political instability and limited data have posed challenges to these studies. The primary objective is to establish a standardised method applicable to different arid environments using the Google Earth Engine platform, considering local relief of terrain and seasonal differences in vegetation. This study integrates multispectral data from LANDSAT 5, Sentinel-2, SAR imagery from Sentinel 1, and TanDEM-X (12 m and 30 m) DSMs. Using these datasets, calculations of selected vegetation indices such as the SMTVI and NDVSI, spectral decomposition methods such as TCT and PCA, and topography-based methods such as the MSRM contribute to a comprehensive understanding of landscape irrigation. This paper investigates the influence of modern environmental conditions on the visibility of features like levees and palaeo-channels by testing different methods and parameters. This study aims to identify the most effective approach for each case study and explore the possibility of applying a consistent method across all areas. Optimal results are achieved by combining several methods, adjusting seasonal parameters, and conducting a comparative analysis of visible features.

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Neolithic cultural sites and extreme climate related channel avulsion: Evidence from the Vaigai River Basin, southern India

Cited by 3 publications

References 57 publications

Tectono‐climatic and depositional environmental controls on the Neolithic habitation sites, Vaigai River Basin, Southern India

Tectono‐climatic and depositional environmental controls on the Neolithic habitation sites, Vaigai River Basin, Southern India

Episodic habitation and abandonment of Neolithic civilization sites in the Vaigai River Basin, Southern India

Application of Multi-Temporal and Multisource Satellite Imagery in the Study of Irrigated Landscapes in Arid Climates

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