Earliest butchery of extinct elephant found in India

A fossil discovery near Pampore, Kashmir, sheds light on the interaction between ancient humans and the environment of the Middle Pleistocene. Nestled within a valley bordered by the Himalayan ranges, Pampore became a significant site for understanding early hominin activity in South Asia.

The discovery of elephant remains and stone tools in 2000 marked the start of a journey to unravel a 300,000-year-old mystery.

The excavation at Pampore revealed a complex stratigraphy of sediments that formed part of the Karewa Group. These sediments were laid down in a lake basin during the Pleistocene, interspersed with river channel deposits.

Among these deposits, the remains of at least three elephants were discovered, along with 87 stone tools. One set of fossils, belonging to the genus Palaeoloxodon, stood out due to its remarkable completeness.

Published in the journal, Quaternary Science Reviews, the fossils came from a steep quarry section composed of silts, clays, and loosely consolidated sandstones. These layers, marked by intermittent soil formations, indicated a fluvial environment influenced by braided river systems.

The main find, a skull, was excavated from sandy deposits, while tusks and fragmented bones were scattered nearby. The stone tools, primarily flakes and blades, showed evidence of early prepared-core technology. The discovery indicated a sophisticated understanding of tool-making techniques by early hominins.

The excavation process was painstaking, requiring careful removal of sediments to preserve the delicate remains. This effort was made more challenging by the loosely consolidated nature of the deposits.

Researchers meticulously documented the site, ensuring that every artifact and fossil was cataloged and analyzed. These measures were crucial in piecing together the story of Pampore’s ancient inhabitants.

The dating of the Pampore sediments has been a challenging endeavor. Studies using intra-crystalline protein decomposition (IcPD) on elephant enamel have suggested a Middle Pleistocene age for the site. Comparisons with fossils from the Siwalik region further corroborated this timeline, placing the remains at an age exceeding 300,000 years.

The sedimentary sequence provided additional clues. Fission track dating of ash layers below the sediments constrained their age to approximately 2.4 million years at the maximum.

Subsequent analyses, including palaeomagnetic studies, refined the timeline, situating the Pampore Member within the Middle Pleistocene. This period, marked by fluctuating climates and evolving ecosystems, would have posed significant challenges and opportunities for early humans.

The Pampore sediments also contained evidence of past climatic conditions. Intermittent soil formation within the layers suggested periods of stability, likely associated with temperate climates. These stable intervals may have provided favorable conditions for both human and animal activity. The presence of ostracod fossils at other sites within the Pampore Member further hinted at the aquatic environments that once dominated the region.

The Pampore site offers rare evidence of human interaction with large animals in the Indian subcontinent. The discovery of elephant bone flakes indicated that early humans likely scavenged the remains for marrow, a valuable energy source.

These flakes, identified as tools, provide the earliest direct evidence of butchery in India. The act of breaking bones to extract marrow reveals a critical survival strategy employed by early hominins.

Interestingly, the stone tools found at Pampore were crafted from basalt, a material not native to the area. This suggests that early hominins transported raw materials from distant locations before shaping them on-site.

The tools' characteristics align with technologies seen in other Middle Pleistocene sites, supporting the hypothesis of advanced tool-making capabilities among these hominins. Such behaviors reflect a level of planning and resourcefulness indicative of cognitive development.

Dr. Advait Jukar, a vertebrate paleontology curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History, remarked on the significance of the site: “Now we know for sure, at least in the Kashmir Valley, these hominins are eating elephants.” This statement underscores the importance of Pampore in filling gaps in the understanding of human-animal interactions during this period.

The tools found at Pampore included flakes, flake tools, and cores, along with several points and blades. These artifacts suggest a prepared-core technology that may indicate a late Middle Pleistocene age for the site. The fresh condition of the tools and their limited post-depositional movement provided further evidence of the site's integrity as a preserved snapshot of early human activity.

The Pampore elephant fossils belong to Palaeoloxodon turkmenicus, an extinct species known for its intermediate evolutionary traits. These elephants, twice the weight of modern African elephants, had a distinctive cranial morphology. The Pampore skull, the most complete specimen of its kind, provided valuable insights into the evolution and dispersal of this genus.

Unique features of the fossil, such as intact throat bones (hyoids), allowed researchers to classify the species accurately. This find bridges gaps in the evolutionary timeline of Palaeoloxodon, showcasing its transition between African ancestors and Eurasian descendants. The intermediate characteristics observed in the Pampore specimen highlight the evolutionary adaptability of this genus as it migrated across diverse environments.

Pathological analysis of the elephant skull revealed evidence of chronic sinusitis. This condition might have contributed to the animal's death, raising questions about whether early humans hunted the animal or scavenged its remains.

While no direct evidence of hunting, such as embedded spear points, was found, the proximity of tools and bones suggests a clear interaction. The possibility that the elephant became trapped in soft sediments near a river adds another layer of complexity to its story.

The discovery also highlighted environmental changes in the Kashmir Valley during the Pleistocene. The sediments and faunal remains suggested a temperate climate interspersed with periods of stability and disruption. These conditions likely influenced human and animal behaviors. The interplay between environmental shifts and human adaptation provides a broader context for the Pampore findings.

The presence of multiple elephants at the site indicates that the valley may have served as a migration corridor or a favorable habitat for large mammals. This abundance of resources would have attracted early humans, creating opportunities for interaction and exploitation.

The discovery of bone flakes and tools adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the hypothesis that early humans were skilled at exploiting their environment for survival.

The Pampore site enriches our understanding of early human dispersal and behavior in South Asia. It challenges previous assumptions about the absence of large-animal exploitation in the region. “It might just be that people haven’t looked closely enough or are sampling in the wrong place,” Dr. Jukar noted, emphasizing the need for more thorough investigations.

The discovery also underscores the role of the Indian subcontinent as a crossroads for human migration and cultural exchange. While hominin fossils remain scarce, sites like Pampore offer indirect evidence of early human activity.

The association of prepared-core technology with large animal remains marks a significant step in understanding the technological and subsistence strategies of ancient populations.

The evidence from Pampore also has broader implications for the study of human evolution. It provides insights into the cognitive and technological capabilities of early hominins. The ability to transport raw materials, process large animal remains, and adapt to changing environments highlights the ingenuity of these ancient humans.

Ongoing studies aim to refine the dating of the site and expand the understanding of early human behavior in the region. The Pampore discovery, with its blend of biological, geological, and archaeological insights, continues to be a cornerstone in Pleistocene research. It serves as a testament to the intricate connections between ancient humans, their tools, and the environments they inhabited.

The discoveries at Pampore represent a significant step forward in the study of human prehistory. By shedding light on the interaction between early humans and their environment, the site provides a window into a pivotal period in the evolution of our species.

As research continues, Pampore promises to reveal even more about the lives and behaviors of our ancient ancestors.

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