Ground penetrating radar (GPR) investigation to uncover fossil-bearing strata of archaeological significance in the late quaternary pediplain deposits of Motravulapadu, South India

Abstract

South Asia’s Late Quaternary tropical rainforests, grasslands, and deserts have supported vast biodiversity, including some of the earliest human habitats. Despite the ecological diversity, studies on Pleistocene faunal assemblage and evolution are relatively scarce, primarily due to challenges in identifying potential sites and conducting excavations. The discovery of well-preserved faunal remains associated with lithic assemblages and the Youngest Toba Tuff beds, dated to approximately 100 and 35 ka, in the Late Quaternary sediments at Motravulapadu site in Andhra Pradesh, India, has provided crucial insights into biodiversity and human-animal interactions. To locate possible fossil-bearing strata efficiently, we conducted a groundpenetrating radar (GPR) survey at the Motravulapadu site using a 1m grid spacing to map subsurface features with distinct dielectric characteristics and identify the shape of the buried remains. GPR grids were planned based on surface observations near previously excavated sites, and the study’s results were validated through successful excavations. The findings from Motravulapadu emphasize the importance of integrating geophysical techniques with traditional archaeological methods to improve the success rate in identifying faunal assemblage. Such discoveries are essential for understanding responses to climatic, volcanic, and anthropogenic changes during the Late Pleistocene.