Aspects of the ethnoarchaeology of Adilabad (Andhra Pradesh), India
This thesis is an ethnoarchaeological investigation of subsistence and settlement patterns in Kuntala (Adilabad District, Andhra Pradesh) in semi-arid Central India. Ethnographic and archaeological data for this study were collected during primary fieldwork among the Gonds, an ethnic group subsisting on a mixed economy of agriculture, hunting, gathering, and fishing. The primary objective of this study is to provide an understanding of subsistence and associated settlement patterns in the Upper Palaeolithic-Mesolithic Transition phase (c. 10,000 to 6,000 B.C.) in the area. To this end, a predictive, regional model is constructed on the basis of combined historical and modern ethnographic material. This model, in the form of an hypothetical picture rather than a rigorous, quantitative and formal one, is laterally evaluated with data for such patterns from other contemporary ethnic groups in the Indian subcontinent. Predictions are made for prehistoric subsistence and settlement patterns in the Kuntala region. These are evaluated against primary archaeological evidence. The model suggests a mixed subsistence strategy of hunting, fishing and gathering with an associated settlement pattern involving large permanent
Rao, Nandini Rameshwar
Archaeology
Aspects of the ethnoarchaeology of Adilabad (Andhra Pradesh), India. This thesis is an ethnoarchaeological investigation of subsistence and settlement patterns in Kuntala (Adilabad District, Andhra Pradesh) in semi-arid Central India. Ethnographic and archaeological data for this study were collected during primary fieldwork among the Gonds, an ethnic group subsisting on a mixed economy of agriculture, hunting, gathering, and fishing. The primary objective of this study is to provide an understanding of subsistence and associated settlement patterns in the Upper Palaeolithic-Mesolithic Transition phase (c. 10,000 to 6,000 B.C.) in the area. To this end, a predictive, regional model is constructed on the basis of combined historical and modern ethnographic material. This model, in the form of an hypothetical picture rather than a rigorous, quantitative and formal one, is laterally evaluated with data for such patterns from other contemporary ethnic groups in the Indian subcontinent. Predictions are made for prehistoric subsistence and settlement patterns in the Kuntala region. These are evaluated against primary archaeological evidence. The model suggests a mixed subsistence strategy of hunting, fishing and gathering with an associated settlement pattern involving large permanent
aspects ethnoarchaeology india ethnoarchaeological investigation subsistence settlement_pattern district semi_arid central india ethnographic archaeological_data study collect primary fieldwork among ethnic_group mixed_economy agriculture hunt gathering fishing primary_objective study provide subsistence associate settlement_pattern upper_palaeolithic mesolithic transition phase area end predictive regional model construct basis combine historical modern ethnographic material model form hypothetical picture rather rigorous quantitative formal evaluate data pattern contemporary ethnic_group indian_subcontinent make prehistoric subsistence settlement_pattern region evaluate primary archaeological_evidence model suggest mixed subsistence_strategy hunting fish gathering associate settlement_pattern involve_large permanent