Chronology of Gujarat

Author(s): M R Majumdar
Publisher: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Page 40

CHRONOLOGY OF GUJARAT
of smaller rivers. All these rivers except the Tāpi have been investigated in recent years by Foote, Zeuner, Sankalia, Subbarao, Pandya A. V., Mehta and Malik (see Bibliography). It is not proposed to go into their full details, but a short summary of the main trends uptodate will be discussed here.
From the studies carried out by F. E. Zeuner-we know that Gujarat passed through a series of fluctuations varying from arid dry periods to more wet periods with greater precipitation. These are the results of the survey of portions of the valleys of rivers like Sābarmati, Mahi and Narmadā.
The main phases may be described as follows :1. Formation of lateritic crusts-humid climate with hilly land-surface. 2. Mottled clay-deposition in the rivers--somewhat drier than the previous. 3. Cemented gravel phase--when the river spread large pebbles in the bed. We
have definite evidence of the Earliest Man in Gujarat : and his tools have been
found in these gravel-beds in all the rivers. 4. Beginning of a dry phase, when climate seems to have changed: The rivers
aggrade or build up their deposits---Human tools have been found in the lower
levels of the silt. 5. Return of the wet conditions resulting in the spread of vegetation and the
resultant weathering of the surface of the silt. Resumption of the dry conditions and acute wind-activity resulting in the wide-spread deposition of wind-blown dunes from North Gujarat, almost upto the Narmadā. But we have evidence of a declining wind-activity as we move southwards. There is, so far, no evidence of human habitation in this period. Probably northern Gujarat was uninhabitable, since we have evidence of
human habitation in the South Gujarat and the Bombay area. 7. A wetter phase-particularly noticeable in the Mahi and the Karjan. 8. A drier phase when isolated dunes were blown about upto the river Narmadā. 9. Return to wet conditions indicated by the presence of the Microlithic man
whose contemporary fauna included Rhinoceros Unicornis. 10. Another change towards a drier phase; yet the men of this period were in a
Stone Age', but used better pottery.
Thus we see two main phases in the Stone Age of Gujarat--Palaeolithic and Microlithic periods.
Palaeolithic:
Gujarat shares with the other parts of peninsular India most of the features of its Palaeolithic culture. It consists of Abbevillo-Acheulean tools with some pebble-choppers.
Jain Education Intemational