The modern man's predecessors might have walked on Indian soil about 2.5 million years ago, a new anthropological discovery indicates.
The discovery made at a site on the Gondwana landmass, one of the world's oldest rock formations, suggests that the site could be the oldest evidence of continuous human habitation in India dating from 2.5 million years ago to 5000 BC.
Excavations along a 50-km stretch of the Subarnarekha valley between Jharkhand and Orissa have yielded tools that link the early Paleolithic age through the lower Paleolithic Age, down the Mesolithic age to the Neolithic age.
The discovery has generated interest in not only the Archaeological Survey of India but also several global outfits, including the Australia-based International Federation of Rock Art Organisations.
The interest is because of the fact that the archaeological evidence uncovered indicated to uninterrupted habitation, something not many stone-age sites have.
The ASI admits the fact that there is no sign of terra incognito (break in continuum) makes this site unlike any other in India or even in Africa, France or Britain.
The Stone Age tools found here resemble the ones found in Aldovai Gorge in East Africa. Stone Age shelters have also been found in Somme valley in France, Stonehenges of England and in 13 sites in India and two in Pakistan.
Noted anthropologist Somnath Chakraborty discovered it in February. He excavated further in August.
Of the many finds, Chakraborty and his team have excavated more than 3,000 pebble tools used in the lower Paleolithic Age. There are other tools of older and later ages.
The habitational deposits can clearly be seen preserved in layers of metamorphosed quartz, lateritic sandstone and haematite rocks.
ASI sources told rediff.com the discovery merited detailed study of the site and it was sending a team of scientists next month to see if they could find fossils.
ASI was also willing to join in the excavation and provide funds if Chakraborty furnished a report on the discovery.
Chakraborty has also been asked by the Australia-based organisation to submit a report on the findings.
Excavation work has been temporarily suspended because of the monsoon. It will resume in winter.
