Behavioural or Biological? Recent Perspectives on the Origins and Evolution of Middle Palaeolithic Culture in South Asia

Theemergence of the Middle Palaeolithic/Stone Age is considered a significantmilestone in human evolutionary studies. This culture is characterized by thedominance of hierarchical core reduction techniques (e.g., Levallois andDiscoidal) and linked to complex hominin behaviour. The roots of this cultureare debated between single-origin and spread through dispersals vs in situ developmentsin Africa, Europe and South Asia. However, recent evidence suggests that someof these transitions are due to behavioural change rather than biologicalchange or dispersals. However, technological and chronologicalcharacterizations of the origins and evolution of Middle Palaeolithic cultureand associated factors are poorly understood. It is crucial to document themechanisms behind the convergent evolution of this culture, which helps tounderstand the shifts in hominin behavioural patterns and dispersals during the last 500 ka in the OldWorld.

Preliminary investigation of Palaeolithicsites situated in the Gundlakamma and adjoining river basins, Andhra Pradesh,India, shed significant light on the origin and evolution of MiddlePalaeolithic culture in South Asia. Lithic assemblages dated to mid-MiddlePleistocene suggest indigenous development and evolution of Middle Palaeolithicculture. The nature of these lithic assemblages and their geological and chronologicalcontext will be discussed. Further, the temporal evolution of these assemblagesdated between >400 to 145 ka will be examined to understand the changes andsimilarities through time.