Fresh off the presses, eHRAF Archaeology now has two new tradition collections for researchers to dig their teeth into. Over the past year, archaeologist Sara Berry has been meticulously indexing a South Asian Upper Paleolithic and South Indian Chalcolithic archaeological text collection, and they are available for HRAF members to dive into today!

The culture summaries are open access. If you are not at a member institution, you can get 30 days access by navigating here, or let your librarian know you are interested in longer-term free access here (with our 60-day IP Trials).

South Asian Upper Paleolithic (AQ30)

Photo of Belum Caves, the site of Upper Palelolithic habitation in Kurnool. Photo by Praveen 2011. CC by 2.0 via Flickr

The South Asian Upper Paleolithic Tradition of mobile bands of hunter-gatherers was located across the Indian Subcontinent from 40,000-7,000 BP. Our collections describe fieldwork at Vodikalu, Beellu, Rallachenu, Patne, the Jwalapuram Locality 9 rockshelter, Ellora, Mehtakheri, Michimagiri III, and Baghor I. Finds detailed include lithics, human and faunal remains, a probable shrine, and other potentially ritual artifacts.

Condensed from the eHRAF Archaeology Collection Overview by Sarah Berry (2018) and the OAT entry for South Asian Upper Paleolithic

South Indian Chalcolithic (AQ73)

Ring constructed of 6 gold beads from Nilgiri Hills, South India, 3000-1400 BP. Photo by The British Museum Collections (Item: 1886,0515.9). CC by 4.0 via TBM

The South Indian Chalcolithic Tradition includes the Neolithic/Chalcolithic cultures of the Deccan Plateau. Sites described by our collections include Kaothe, Kaothe’s modern and ancient surroundings, Walki, Prakash, Budihal, the Tapi Basin, Shorapur Doab, Daimabad, and Inamgaon. Floral and faunal remains, stone tools, and ashmound sites are highlighted along with farming techniques and plant domestication.

Condensed from the eHRAF Archaeology Collection Overview by Sarah Berry (2018) and the OAT entry for South Indian Chalcolithic