Abstract
Understanding of human evolution in South Asia primarily rests on a solitary calvarium (partial skullcap) from Hathnora in the central Narmada valley, but its disputed taxonomic status has blurred the picture. Early explorations (1983-1992) led to the discovery of 2-clavicles and a 9th rib from Hathnora, but those were so tiny to fit with the calvarium, and fueled the debate whether the calvarium is of a dwarf or a pygmy. Further explorations conducted (2005-2010) brought out 6-femora, 3-humeri and 2-sacra. They were derived from different localities and bio-stratigraphic and archaeological contexts, and posed a challenge of association with the calvarium or with other unknown hominins. The present study is undertaken to address this problem, and the postcranial bones are sorted into possible morphotypes based on criteria of robustness, estimated sex and stature/body size under the control of their contexts. The study distinguished two major morphotypes which reflect the process of humanization in the central Narmada valley and a possible evolutionary scenario for South Asia. The earliest morphotype is a “robust tall hominin”, recognized as a unique hybrid cf. H. heidelbergensis, represented by the calvarium and two femora. It appeared around 300 - 150 ka in association with megaterrestrial fauna and late Acheulian tools-kit. The second morphotype is a “short and stocky” hominin, named Homo narmadensis Sp. Nov. This is hitherto unrecognized hominin represented by eight fossil bones in association with the “Upper Group fauna” and Middle to Upper Palaeolithic industry. It appeared about 150 - 100 ka and continued to ca. 40 ka, and was the likely precursor to the “short-bodied” ancient populations of India, including the Andaman pygmy.
Highlights
Understanding of human evolution in South Asia primarily rests on a solitary calvarium from Hathnora in the central Narmada valley, but its disputed taxonomic status has blurred the picture
Current understanding of human evolution in South Asia greatly owes to the central Narmada valley, which stands unique for gifting us unambiguous Middle to Late Pleistocene hominin fossils in association with numerous mammalian fauna and Palaeolithic implements (Figure 1)
On date, there are 15 hominin fossils on record from the Narmada valley discovered from different localities and bio-stratigraphic and archaeological contexts, and pose a challenge to associate the bones with the calvarium
Summary
Current understanding of human evolution in South Asia greatly owes to the central Narmada valley, which stands unique for gifting us unambiguous Middle to Late Pleistocene hominin fossils in association with numerous mammalian fauna and Palaeolithic implements (Figure 1). The author and a few associates from the Anthropological Survey of India ( after called AnSI) initiated explorations at Hathnora and vicinity from 1983 through 1992. These resulted the discoveries of two clavicles and a 9th rib (Figure 2: 2-4) from Hathnora, recognized by the author in 1995 and reported (Sankhyan, 1997a, 1997b, 2005). They shared the sex, age and locality of the calvarium, but were too tiny to go with a “large-headed” hominin, and created controversy whether the calvarium was of a “dwarf” or a “pygmy” (Sankhyan, 1999). The debate prompted the Anthropological Survey of India to re-initiate fresh explorations and trial excavations in the central Narmada valley during 2005-2010 to seek new fossil materials
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