Changing Paradigms in South Asian Prehistory: Attirampakkam and Beyond

About the Speaker

Shanti Pappu is interested in prehistory, palaeoenvironments, ethnoarchaeology, history of archaeology and in public archaeology, especially for children and teachers. She is a former Professor of Prehistory at the Deccan College Postgraduate & Research Institute. She completed her M.A degree and doctorate from the Deccan College Post-graduate and Research Institute, Pune (1996), under Prof. K.Paddayya, on the prehistoric archaeology of Tamil Nadu, and was subsequently a Homi Bhabha Fellow. She was a Charles Wallace Fellow at the Ancient India and Iran Trust, U.K. She has obtained several awards including the Prof. H.D. Sankalia gold medal from the Deccan College, and Young Scientist award from the Earthwatch Institute, the USA amongst others. She holds a law degree with a dissertation on cultural heritage laws of India and is a registered advocate. She has published two books, with numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, including Science, and Nature as also one book for children on archaeology and several popular articles. She is currently director of the research project on prehistory and palaeoenvironments in Tamil Nadu, including excavations at the site of Attirampakkam. She is affiliated with several academic bodies and societies, and is Member, Global Library Committee, World Archaeology Congress, the Joint-Secretary of the Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies and former joint editor of the journal Man and Environment. She is on the Board of Management of the Children’s Garden School Society and affiliated schools in Chennai (Ellen Sharma Memorial Matriculation & Higher Secondary School, Sholinganallore) and is involved in educational programs for children and teachers.

Abstract

Over the past decade. numerous debates have ranged around the timing and nature of dispersals of differing species whether out of or into Africa, with alternate theories being the subject of great contention. South Asia with its rich Palaeolithic archaeological record and geographical position is of critical importance in investigating not only questions of population dispersals, but also aspects of adaptation to environmental changes over the Pleistocene. Here, we first situate the South Asian prehistoric record in a global context. We then move to our specific research project comprising excavations at the site of Attirampakkam, Tamil Nadu and other sites along the SE coast of India. Archaeological, geomorphological and geochronological studies here have led to paradigm shifts in our understanding of the prehistoric record of India, reframing current concepts of the age and nature of the early Palaeolithic (Stone Age) occupation of India. In particular age estimates for different cultural phases at Attirampakkam ranging from around 1.7 million years ago to around 172,000 years ago have stimulated global debates on existing theories of the timing and nature of population dispersals out of Africa and across Asia. Implications of these studies in terms of paradigm shifts in viewing trajectories of cultural evolution and population dispersals across Eurasia are discussed here. We conclude by emphasising the crucial importance of Indian archaeology and associated sciences in contributing towards a global perspective of human origins. We discuss aspects of public archaeology-our outreach programs to diverse audiences to encourage an appreciation of aspects of India’s forgotten prehistoric heritage.

Report

This paper is a response to the talk by Professor Shanti Pappu of the Sharma Centre of Heritage on South Asian Prehistory, Attirampakkam and Beyond. This talk discussed the findings at Attirampakkam which pushes back the date of hominin advent in India. The talk focused on both the methodology of finding and the debates that it leads to about South Asian Prehistory.

Before the explorations of Attirampakkam, in the ‘Out of Africa' thesis, the first dates for coming of hominins in India was much later compared to sites in Africa and West Asia. Therefore the excavation of Attirampakkam and detailed study of its artefacts by Professor Pappu and her team pushes the date to around 1.7 million years ago, which is much closer to sites around the world.

Professor Pappu also discussed the different methods that have led to the discovery of the artefacts and close examination of the same. A detailed exploration was done to locate where the trench must be dug as the site of Attirampakkam was a huge mound encompassing a large area of land. This exploration was done by high-resolution photography and testing of soil samples from the site.

The actual excavation yielded many interesting results. Larger stone tools were found under 3m but the Acheulian stone tools were only found under 9 metres from surface level. This was lower than the originally believed layer. These artefacts were then tested by taphonomy. The environmental conditions were not the most favourable. No bones were found at Attirampakkam, but phytoliths were discovered through soil testing. Several complex dating methods were used to date the sites, which included Radiocarbon dating. The conclusions from the artefacts found to put it as a large site that attracted a large number of people as many tools were found there.

But what are the larger implications from the findings of Attirampakkam? The first and most glaring is that it challenges the ‘Out of Africa’ thesis and the migration of hominins. Second, it indicates to several migrations of hominins from India to Africa. Third, it puts an Indian site at utmost prominence among the prehistory of humans. Professor Pappu’s talk shed light on these implications and pushed us for more possibilities in the field of Indian prehistory.

By Pratiti, Undergraduate Class of 2020