1 2 / Rajasthan History Congress ISSN 2321-1288 presence of seasonal water courses such as the Ghaggar, the Sahibi, Dohan, Krishnawati, Sota and so on. Contrary to this, there are seasonal as well as perennial water courses in the southern half. Among the Presidential Address perennial rivers mention may be made of the Chambal and Banas. On the other hand there are a number of seasonal water courses such as Early Culture Identity Formations in Khari, Berachm Khothari, Gambiri, Luni and others. Rajasthan: Emerging Perspectives Professor Ram Chander Thakran Respected Fellow Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am grateful to the executive committee of The Rajasthan History Congress for electing me as the General President of the 30th session being organized by the colleagues at the Department of History under the auspices of Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur. I am humbled by this decision of the executed committee and I hope I may be able to meet the aspirations of all the members through this presentation. The topic Early Culture Identity Formations in Rajasthan: Emerging Perspectives of this address may appear somewhat unfamiliar to the delicates because it is primarily on Early Archaeological Cultures of the state. Before coming to the main theme A Brief Survey of the natural features of Rajasthan is attempted in the following lines. The state of Rajasthan is bounded by the state of Haryana in the north by the state of Gujarat in the west, by the state of Madhya Pradesh in the south and southeast and by the state of Uttar Pradesh in the east. The state of Rajasthan is geographically divided into two Map – 1, After V. N. Misra broad units – the Marwar is west of the Aravallis and the Mewar is in The contrast between the two sub-regions is further attested its east. The former is partly forms part of the Haryana plains and to in the prevailing rainfall patterns. In the western sub-region the partly, especially in the western area, comprising of the Thar Desert. average rainfall is low. While the eastern sub-region receives higher Whereas the eastern sub-region is consisting of the extension of the annual precipitation. Almost seventy to eighty percent of the annual Malwa plateau mainly in its southern parts, and its northern part is an precipitation is received only during the monsoon season while rest of intermediary zone between the Thar in the west and the Yamuna plains the rains are distributed over the non-monsoonal months. Light to in the east. (Map-1) moderate winter showers are integral to the precipitation pattern and The quality of ground water in the western and northern section such showers prove very useful for the growth and maturity of the is broadly brackish to saline while it is fresh in the southeastern parts. rabi crops in both the sub-zones. In the western sub-region surface water bodies are usually saline The soils of this state present an equally interesting landscape. whereas in the eastern sub-region we notice presence of fresh water In the Marwar region these are largely aeolian sandy soils, though in bodies. Besides there are water courses of varied nature, forms and the extreme northwestern parts of this region, especially along the denominations in the sub-regions. In the western sub-region we notice Ghaggar bed, there is a presence of the clayey soils. The aeolian sandy 2 ISSN 2321-1288 Rajasthan History Congress / 3 4 / Rajasthan History Congress ISSN 2321-1288 soils are consisting of plain surface usually known as tals, interspersed these natural forces assume any dominant position at any stage of with stable as well as mobile sand dunes of varied denominations and human history for shaping the destiny of the people? This would be shapes. The combine of the two presents an undulating surface which one of endeavours in this presentation. is a normal feature and also very crucial to offer a range of opportunities Like the aforesaid natural features of the state of Rajasthan the to the people of this area for their sustenance contrary to what generally floral scenario is very interesting. The natural vegetation cover is broadly appears from to a layman. Likewise the clayey soils of the Ghaggar in tune with the prevailing conditions. The normal vegetation is broadly bed are usually flanked by sandy soils dotted with some sand dunes in uniform in all the sub-regions of this area. It is primarily deciduous between. These clayey soils are composed of very fine clayey silt and sparse. Vast stretches of land are devoid of any reasonable cover brought down along the river water from the areas of its origin, of plants and trees. Among the trees one normally encounters, Khejri, dispersed and deposited along its course by river water action. These Pilu, Babul, Pipal, Neem and so on. Likewise we have evidence of are considered to be the most fertile soils which offer a host of small, squat and thorny bushes without or with tiny leaves. Season- subsistence opportunities in all seasons. These, in fact, are comparable wise different grasses and other small plants are also encountered in to the other best soils of Haryana and Punjab. With the result perhaps varied frequencies. Some of these plants offer a very good green as the highest population density in the state is marked in these very well as dry fodder to the animals. Consequently, animal husbandry areas, though both the quantity and quality of ground water is not enjoy a very high position among subsistence practices until now. Its always good in and along the course of the river even in the shallow aquifers1. viability needs to be assessed in regard to the remote ancient times as well. The soils in the Mewar region are also a mix of sandy and clayey soils. However in the northern and northeastern parts of this The fauna of this area is consist of wild as well as domesticated zone we experience low frequency of sand dunes and also low animals. Among the wild animals there is a presence of nilgai, deer, percentage of sand in comparison to its western counterpart. Primarily hare, jackals, pig, woolf whereas the domesticated animals include surface undulation is also less. On an average the fertility quotient is sheep, goat, cow, buffalo, horse, donkey, camel among others. Some higher than the aeolian sandy soils of the Marwar region in the west. of these domesticated animals have been a constant source of energy Accordingly the polulation density in these areas is also relatively higher and traction power to the people. While both wild and domesticated than its western counterpart and it would be very interesting to find animals constituted fairly reliable source of food through historical out if this bears any resonances in the context of the ancient societies period. This food base was enriched by the addition of aquatic fauna. as well. It would be very interesting to investigate if these natural resources In the southern and southwestern parts of the Mewar region contributed in any measure in the culinary tastes of the people in the the soils are largely different for this being part of the Malwa plateau. Prehistoric and Protohistoric past also. It is in this backdrop desired Hence the soils predominantly form part of the black cotton soil of to trace the beginning of human life in these areas in order to make the Malwa. These are dotted with rocky formations and dissected by out the cultural antecedents of this area and also identify the problems a number of water courses, both perennial and seasonal. The landscape and issues that confronted these early settlers. is largely plain but uneven also as after regular intervals it is Beginning of Human Life: The Palaeolithic Evidence interspersed with contrasting natural formations. The black cotton In order to trace the Prehistoric cultural antecedents of soils of this region are very fertile, especially when combined with its Rajasthan archaeological activities to this affect were, especially surface water bodies, higher rains and harnessing capabilities of the undertaken by archaeologists in the early fifties of the last century2. people. In the following discussion it is intended to explore if this Since then over ninety locations have been found bearing Acheulian combine of the natural resources experienced any shift in settlement tool types of the lower Palaeolithic period produced by the Homo concentrations/population densities over the ancient past. Further, did erectus. These tool bearing locales are dispersed over the districts of 3 ISSN 2321-1288 Rajasthan History Congress / 5 6 / Rajasthan History Congress ISSN 2321-1288 Jhalawar3 and Jodhpur4 with one each, Bharatpur with only presence of choppers (olduwan tools) from a stratified independent two5,Jaisalmer6, Kota7 and Pali8 with three each, Jaipur with five9, context. This suggests, as of now, that the people of the second stage Ajmer with six10 Bhilwara11, Nagpur12 and Udaipur with seven each13 of the lower Palaeolithic did not evolve locally from the early stage of and Chittaurgarh with thirty seven14 (Map-2). Almost fifty percent of human evolution, i.e. the period of the Homo-habilis. On the contrary the known sites are produced by the Chittaurgarh district alone of the the Acheulian people seem to have arrived here from some other areas. twelve site bearing districts. More than fifty percent of the total It is, therefore, significant to identify the area they migrated from. districts are devoid of any presence of human activities during this Besides, the density of human activities was low and sparse, and was phase of human history. Further the locational analysis of these also circumscribed by a host of forces.