Latest news with #Harappans
Time of India
04-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Sindoor Goddesses of India: From Harappa to Hinglaj and Charani women
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Sindoor in India is linked to auspiciousness, femininity, fertility, and most surprisingly, ancient trade routes frequented by nomadic pastoralists. Worn by married women of India, the earliest reference to the use of sindoor comes from the Harappan civilisation, where clay figurines have been shown with sindoor in the parting of the hair. These figurines have been found in the Baluchistan is this sindoor coming from? In all probability from Darestan in Iran. It is known that during the Bronze Age, 2000 BC, there were wide trading networks. The Harappans procured lapis lazuli, a blue stone, from Afghanistan. So, obtaining cinnabar-mercury sulphide, which is sindoor -from Darestan in Iran is not along the Makran coast, sindoor is known as Hingula and was offered to Hinglaj Mata , whose oldest shrine is located in Balochistan. Even today, people travel from India to Balochistan in Pakistan to make offerings to this goddess. This site is considered a Shakti Peeth, associated with the head of the goddess, which was always covered with vermilion, or red dedicated to such sindoor-smeared goddesses are found in Balochistan, Gujarat, Kutch, Sindh, along the Makran coast, and along the Aravalli mountains -even extending along trade routes into Madhya Pradesh and as far south as Odisha (Talcher), where red sindoor is found in the form of iron oxides. These are major Tantric locations, a network of occult sites visited by ancient shamans and goddesses have a deep connection with women of the Charan community . The Charans are a unique community: poets who narrated ballads, keepers of royal genealogies, warriors who fought alongside Rajputs, and pastoralists closely associated with animal husbandry-particularly the breeding of buffaloes, sheep, goats, camels and narrated stories of Pabuji, the one who brought camels to India, and of Dev Narayanji linked to horse breeding in the Aravalli region. In these tales, the hero's mare is always gifted by a Charan woman or Charani-believed to be a living embodiment of the goddess, spiritually connected to sindoor-smeared goddesses. These were not symbolic abstractions but real women reputed to possess miraculous, magical powers -channels through whom the goddess women are said to have aided Rajput kings, directed kings to dig step wells during droughts, fed armies using only a single piece of bread and a pot of buttermilk, and cheered them into battlefields to protect the herds. There are numerous stories of Charani women with miraculous kings attempted to molest them, only to be met with curses and divine retribution, attacked by swarms of bees and snakes dropping from their umbrellas. In some tales, there is not a single Charan human-goddess but seven sisters, accompanied by a brother or uncle known as Bhairo. This motif of seven sisters and one brother can even be traced back to Harappan Charanis are worshipped even now in temples such as the Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan, Bahucharaji Mata and Khodyar Mata in Gujarat, and Hinglaj Mata in Balochistan. Traditionally dressed in deep red-the colour of sindoor-to embody auspiciousness, they sometimes wore black to communicate bad news or Khejri tree is sacred to the Charani women. It is said that when there was no wood and one such woman had no staff with which to churn buttermilk, she caused a Khejri tree to appear -from which she produced a limitless supply of buttermilk. In some stories, these women are described as daughters of snake gods; in others, they are nymphs who take the form of tigers. Now, tigers and the Khejri tree appear on Harappan seals-suggesting that the Charans may have been closely linked to, or descended from, the Harappan cities through the cult of sindoor. Women of this region wear bangles similar to the bangles manufactured in Harappan oldest image of Durga, dated to the 1st century BC, was found in Nagar near Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. It shows the goddess with two hands, plucking out the tongue of a buffalo. Intriguingly, in the Hinglaj Mata temple in Balochistan, there is still a site commemorating the tongue of the buffalo demon being flung to the side of the temple. The legend of the region refer to Hinglaj Mata of Balochistan as Lal Chunariya Wali or Nani Devi. The name Nani connects her with Naina Devi of Uttarakhand and the goddess Nana, who was revered as a lion-riding goddess during the Kushan era. The sindoor goddess trail thus spreads over geography and history. Sindoor then becomes a marker of a civilisational network that predates the composition of the Vedas.
The Print
30-06-2025
- Science
- The Print
Early Harappan burial discovery is changing how we understand Gujarat's past
Gujarat's archaeological record shows that its history is long and non-linear. In this land, occupying the northeastern corner of western India, hunter-gatherers co-existed with agro-pastoralists and early copper users long before the rise and fall of Harappan culture. Against this background, the recent excavation at Lakhapar is significant not merely for the age of the findings, but for the evidence it offers about life, landscape, and cultural evolution. The truth is that the chronology of Gujarat's ancient past is not a recent revelation. It is well-established in academia that prior to the rise of Harappan port towns and cities, indigenous societies had adapted to their environments and established their own cultural milieu. In the last month, much of the media coverage around archaeological research in Gujarat has focused on dates. Various reports have announced the unearthing of 5,300–5,000-year-old settlements in Kutch by the University of Kerala. The emphasis, however, has been on the numbers rather than the archaeological depth of the research. In this flurry of numbers, we have ignored the actual significance of these excavations and the decades of scholarship and fieldwork they are built upon. These are not mere discoveries that revise timelines but ones that deepen our understanding. That is what deserves our attention. The real insight lies not in the numbers, but in the evidence brought to light by archaeologists. Also read: Hunter-gatherers of Gujarat shared timeline with Harappans. History isn't linear Gujarat's archaeological past Gujarat is a region where the Kathiawad (Saurashtra) peninsula resembles 'a caricatured head bending down the coastal plain, with its slender body supported by the Malwa plateau and Satpura Range.' This geographically diverse terrain has fostered a rich and complex archaeological landscape shaped by a long, complex trajectory of human occupation. Since prehistoric times, early humans have inhabited this region, as evidenced by research undertaken by many scholars. Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) imprints are marked by stone tools found along ancient rivers such as the Mahi and Sabarmati. As the region transitioned to the New Stone Age, sites like Langhnaj in north Gujarat offered a rare glimpse of Mesolithic foragers. Their geometric microlithic tools and evidence of hunting-gathering, combined with domestication and burial practices, signal a significant juncture in the adaptive history of western India. This gradual transition towards domestication and sedentary life, evident by the 4th millennium BCE at sites like Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra, Padri near Somnath, and Loteshwar in north Gujarat. These sites reveal the rise of early agro-pastoralism, onset of metal (copper) use, distinctive regional ceramics, and continued microlith use. Sites such as Loteshwar and Rangpur are especially significant for showing a continuous cultural sequence from the Mesolithic to the Chalcolithic period. By the 3rd millennium BCE, Gujarat saw the rise of urban Harappan centres, but with regional adaptations. Across Saurashtra and Kutch, the Sorath Harappan tradition was predominant. Sites like Lothal, Bagasra, and Dholavira developed as regional trade hubs specialising in crafts and maritime trade. Yet even as these urban centres rose, older lifeways persisted. Around 1900 BCE, when deurbanisation started, Gujarat saw the rise of regional centres and Late Harappan sites. Such layered, nuanced history of continuity and change reveals a landscape of non-linear progression and co-existence. It requires us to look beyond mere dates. This is where the excavation at Lakhapar matters — it highlights not just the stratigraphy but adds a previously unexcavated layer to the archaeological landscape of Gujarat's early history. Also read: India's archaeological site museums need major makeover. Vadnagar must set an example Excavation at Lakhapar The archaeological site at Lakhapar village in Kutch was identified in 2022 with the help of Narayanbhai Jajani, former sarpanch of Lakhapar, and later excavated by Abhayan GS and Rajesh SV of the Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala. The site was identified as Early Harappan (c. 3300-2600 BCE), and the excavation builds upon earlier work at the nearby Early Harappan cemetery at Juna Khatiya, excavated in 2019, 2020, and 2022 by the same team. The Juna Khatiya excavation yielded around 197 burials. When combined with the findings at Lakhapar, they reinforce the idea of a broader network of interconnected Early Harappan settlements in this region. Excavators unearthed large stone structures, a human burial, and a plethora of pottery and artefacts. These structures, built using local sandstone and shale, indicate organised construction and systematic planning. According to the archaeologists, the most significant discovery is the presence of pre-Prabhas pottery, named after the type-site Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra and also found at Datrana and Janan. This rare ceramic type, characterised by specific forms and fabrics, suggests interaction with regional Chalcolithic communities that co-existed in the region. The human burial at Lakhapar, found within the habitation area, also included a pre-Prabhas pottery assemblage. Abhayan and Rajesh noted a considerable difference between this burial and those at Juna Khatiya: it lacked burial architecture or surface markers and was placed directly into a pit. This makes it the first burial in Gujarat with pre-Prabhas, Chalcolithic pottery linked to an Early Harappan site. Furthermore, a large portion of the habitation layers closely resembles Early Harappan Sindh-type settlements, as also seen at Juna Khatiya. Such findings indicate cultural interactions, not only with co-existing early Chalcolithic groups, but also with Early Harappan cultures of Sindh, dated to around 3300 BCE, or roughly 5300 years ago. Also read: How Gujarat spread Buddhism—Devnimori dig gives us a mahastupa, inscribed casket, coins Cultural crossroads A few years ago, Ajit Prasad of MSU Baroda excavated another Early Harappan burial site at Dhaneti in Kutch. It revealed multiple burials with grave goods and pottery — an important find, as distinct Early Harappan cemeteries are rare. Most Harappan burial data comes from the Classical or Mature Harappan phase. Therefore, sites like Dhaneti offer great insight into this early period before the onset of urbanism. When Juna Khatiya and Lakhapar were being excavated, archaeologists expected to find similar antiquity. However, the evidence featuring an Early Harappan cemetery, habitation, and its cultural interaction with Chalcolithic groups was an even rarer find. What distinguishes them from other Early Harappan sites like Dhaneti is not the number of burials or their age, but their potential to reshape our understanding of how regional communities co-existed, interacted, and may have participated in the rise of the Indian Subcontinent's first urban civilisation. Disha Ahluwalia is an archaeologist and junior research fellow at the Indian Council Of Historical Research. She tweets @ahluwaliadisha. Views are personal. (Edited by Prashant)
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Did humans live in Kachchh 5000 years before the Harappans and eat THIS? Read to find out
History keeps evolving with every new discovery. Sometimes, what we consider the beginning of civilization in a region turns out to be only a chapter in a much longer and richer story. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now That's exactly what a team of researchers has found in Gujarat's Kachchh region. Long before the Harappans built their cities, human communities were already living, surviving, and adapting to the land and its environment. These weren't city builders or traders yet, but they were intelligent, observant, and deeply connected to the natural world around them. A recent research study, released in a press note titled "Shell Chronicles of Ancient Kachchh" by the Ministry of Education, has revealed some archaeological evidence that places humans in this region at least 5,000 years before the Harappan civilisation. The study was conducted by researchers from IIT Gandhinagar (IITGN), in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), Delhi, and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad. According to Prof. V.N. Prabhakar, the lead investigator from IITGN, 'Our study is the first to identify these sites, confirm their cultural significance, and establish a chronological context.' The early humans ate this… These early communities, according to researchers, lived in a mangrove-rich landscape and heavily relied on shellfish like oysters and snails for food. Shell heaps, known as middens, were found in various parts of Khadir and nearby islands. These were once dismissed as natural deposits but are now recognized as evidence of early human life. To confirm the age of these findings, the team used Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), a high-precision method that measures Carbon-14 levels to date organic remains. This method, paired with tree-ring calibration, helped establish a timeline that predates the Harappans. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Shells collected were analysed at PRL, Ahmedabad, and IUAC Delhi with support from experts like Prof Ravi Bhushan, JS Ray, and Dr Pankaj Kumar, according to Prof. Prabhakar. Some tools were also discovered Interestingly, the also found stone tools such as blades, scrapers, and used cores, suggesting a community skilled in tool-making. As Dr Shikha Rai, a postdoctoral researcher and co-author, stated, 'The presence of these tools and associated raw materials suggests that the communities engaged in the prolific manufacture of implements for daily tasks.' The researchers believe these early groups had deep knowledge of their environment, and this may have later helped the Harappans in planning settlements and trade routes. Prof. Prabhakar noted, 'Instead of abrupt external influence, what we see here is a gradual, locally rooted process of adaptation and cultural development.' Earlier research done at IIT Gandhinagar had already studied the climate history of Khadir Island going back over 11,500 years. Now, with the discovery of these ancient shell middens, scientists believe they can learn even more. By closely examining these shells, researchers hope to understand what the climate was like when early humans lived in the area. These natural remains hold clues about rainfall, temperature, and sea levels from thousands of years ago. This can help build a clearer picture of how ancient people adapted to changes in their environment
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- The Hindu
Mango's Culinary Journey and Roots Explored in New Book
Not many know that the origin of the mango lies in northeast India, or that grinding stones and pottery dating from 1500 BC and belonging to the Harappans revealed traces of the fruit. If you would like to deep dive into the history of the king of fruits, Mango: A Global History by sisters Constance L Kirker and Mary Newman is a great starting point. Launched as a part of the Edible series (published by Pan Macmillan), the book traces the fruit's history, its cultural significance in India with references in Hindu epics and Ghalib's poetry, and also delves into the geopolitics of mango cultivation, consumption, and current sustainability efforts. The duo says that it was during the research for Edible Flowers: A Global History (2016), that they visited markets in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. 'Connie lived for a while in Singapore and travelled frequently throughout Asia. Based on what we learned on our travels,mango seemed a natural progression for the series,' says Mary, a writer and culinary researcher.. While there were no mangoes in Ohio, where the sisters grew up, their travels in the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Cambodia also contributed research for the book. 'In addition to academic research, our favourite sources of information came from our travel experiences and getting stories from the people we met, taking cooking classes all over the world, attending food festivals, visiting farms, processing plants, and eating!' says writer and culinary historian, Constance. The book, they say, 'explores the properties of mangoes through the lens of the five senses'. Constance explains that while taste is important for enjoying a mango, the other senses play a major role as well, 'including the sight of their beautiful colours, and the smell of a fully ripe mango'. 'There is a component of texture to mangoes as the juices and fibers stimulate those senses. Even the sound of someone sucking on a mango pit evokes the senses,' she says, 'A really good mango should be messy, a full body experience employing all the senses; sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. It is said that you should really eat a mango while naked in a bathtub.' Something Queen Victoria certainly would not approve. The book highlights how the queen, 'a great champion of etiquette and elaborate table manners' expanded the use of cutlery worldwide and a mango fork was designed during the Victorian period. Mango also has references of how the British did not 'savour the sight of Indians squatting on the floor and sucking on mangoes, with the juice flowing down their elbows. They often referred to it as the 'bathroom fruit', and instructed their Indian servants to confine the mess of mango eating to the bathroom.' Elizabeth II, on the other hand, relished the fruit. According to her former chef John Higgins, she 'really enjoyed mangoes, and could tell you how many mangoes were in the fridge at Buckingham Palace', states the book. Of all the facts and interesting finds that the duo discovered during their research, they were most surprised by the 'almost fanatical, universal, and personal attachment that people in countries where the fruit flourishes have for their variety of mangoes'. 'People don't just 'like' their mangoes, they 'love' their mangoes with a devotion unmatched by any other fruit in the US or Europe,' says Mary. Constance believes mangoes are 'sexy'. 'Fittingly, they are the only fruit with a position named after them in the famed love manual, the Kama Sutra,' she adds. The authors also discovered over 50 works of fiction with mango in their titles, and over 20 culinary memoirs and cookbooks, and several children's books with titles of the fruit. Food references aside, the book also looks at the fruit's religious and cultural connotations. For instance, there are many examples of the fruit and the mango tree in the teachings of Buddhism, and how the Buddha has a rounded chin shaped like a mango stone. The traditional South Indian gold bridal necklace, called a 'mango mala', is adorned with mango-shaped stones, representing the wish for a fertile marriage. The well-curated recipe section in the book features a mango menu with mango wine/lassi/tea; starters such as raw mango rasam, aamras; mains like aamchur chicken, Haitian mango chicken; sides like the Vietnamese green mango salad; and desserts including mango float, mango barfi, and more. 'Since our book is a global history, the mango recipes were all taken from historical sources from around the world,' says Constance. The recipe for mango curry, for instance, is taken from food writer Soity Banerjee's conjecture of what a 2000-year-old curry may have been like. 'I experimented with some mango recipes. I took the recipe for aam papad, and substituted American mango babyfood for the pulp and seasoned it with tajin (a Mexican spice blend of chiles, lime and salt) making an accessible, intercultural variation,' says Mary. For the mango chutney, Constance adapted it from a 1930 recipe from Fairchild Botanical Gardens, a mango research centre in Florida. Mango: A Global History is priced at ₹599 and is available on
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on significance of stromatolite formations and Kutch as a multi‑phased archaeological region (Week 106)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today's answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Discuss the importance of Kutch as a multi‑phased archaeological region spanning hunter‑gatherer, pre‑Harappan, and mature Harappan phases. Discuss the significance of stromatolite formations for understanding the tectonic evolution of the Himalayas and the Tethys Sea. Introduction — The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction. — It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts. Body — It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content. — The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points. — Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. QUESTION 1: Discuss the importance of Kutch as a multi‑phased archaeological region spanning hunter‑gatherer, pre‑Harappan, and mature Harappan phases. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Researchers have discovered human remains in the Great Rann of Kutch dating back at least 5,000 years before the Harappans. The finding is based on dating and analysing shell remains discovered in the late nineteenth century. — In 1872, Anglo-Irish geologist Arthur Beavor Wynne described 'a patch of large broken univalve shells' discovered 'all over the northern side of Kutch' in his memoirs for the Geological Survey of India (GSI). Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — A study reveals linkages between the Kutch midden site – archaeological sites where huge numbers of marine shells, bones, tools, and ceramics are generally found – and those in Oman and Pakistan along the coast of the northern Arabian Sea, where these pre-Harappan civilisations most likely resided. — A fresh group of archaeological remains was discovered about a km from the Harappan site of Dholavira near Bambhanka, the southernmost village on Khadir Beyt (island), on the road that connects the island to the Kutch mainland. — Khadir was one of six islands in this region where sea levels were higher until around 5,000-6,000 years ago, according to V N Prabhakar, an associate professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar's Department of Earth Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences. — 'The surface had broken potsherds, shell remains, and flakes of carnelian and agate, while on the surface were remnants of walls built with random rubble masonry,' Dr. Rai tells The Indian Express. A trench built for a pipeline on the hillock's western edge revealed a 30-40-cm-thick accumulation of shell remains. — The majority of the shell remains have been broken in the centre, most likely to extract meat. Similar findings from Pakistan's Las Bela region date back to the seventh and fifth millennia BCE, implying that hunter-gatherer tribes relied on shell remains for food and engaged in long-distance commerce within inland locales. Conclusion: — The study reveals the presence of coastal hunter-gatherer societies in the Great Rann of Kutch region that have adapted to the mangrove habitat, which is home to the shell species documented thus far, such as Terebralia palustris or the gigantic mangrove whelk. — Most sites are on river banks, about 2-2.5 km from the ocean, although some are farther inside, implying that the occupants hauled the sea shells inside. We were unable to reach the northern coast, which is a forested area, but there may be additional deposits. — The few remaining mangroves are discovered in the Little Rann of Kutch, southeast of Dholavira, near Lakhpat on the west coast, and at an inland area known as Shravan Kavadiya, northeast of Bhuj, which may have been the ancient shoreline. (Source: Stories in Kutch shells: Hunter-gatherers who lived in Gujarat 5,000 years before the Harappans and their cities) Points to Ponder Read about Dholavira Other Indus Valley civilisations sites in Gujarat Related Previous Year Questions The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present day. Comment. (2015) To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss. (2014) QUESTION 2: Discuss the significance of stromatolite formations for understanding the tectonic evolution of the Himalayas and the Tethys Sea. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Stromatolites are the earliest known fossil records of life on Earth. These structures are formed by complicated interactions between microbial mat populations and their geochemical surroundings. — Stromatolites, which are reef-like structures formed by ancient cyanobacteria in shallow oceans, provide evidence of this evolution. These mineralised mounds, which may be found all over India, from the Vindhyas and Cuddapah Basin to the limestone ridges of the Himalayas, record a time when oxygen did not exist and continents had not collided. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — These ancient structures provide a glimpse into a time when the Earth's atmosphere was dominated by greenhouse gases and oxygen was nonexistent. Their location in the Himalayas, far from any contemporary coastline, tells a story about tectonic upheavals, lost oceans, and the microbiological origins of life. — Ancient microbial mats, primarily made up of blue-green algae or cyanobacteria, caught and bonded silt over time, resulting in layered, reef-like mounds. — Stromatolites are bio sedimentary structures formed in shallow maritime environments by blue-green algae. — As oxygen began to accumulate in the atmosphere, due to these early cyanobacteria, the Earth changed from anaerobic to aerobic conditions, clearing the way for multicellular life. Around 3.5 billion years ago, the only species to survive were single-celled bacteria that produced oxygen. When stromatolites, generated by cyanobacteria or blue-green algae, began creating oxygen, the Earth's atmosphere changed, allowing multicellular life to emerge. This extraordinary voyage, documented in our geoheritage, resulted in the emergence of trilobites, dinosaurs, and, finally, modern humans. — The Great Oxidation Event or Oxygen Catastrophe refers to the increase in oxygen levels in the atmosphere and oceans that occurred roughly 2.4 billion years ago. — Chambaghat's stromatolites are part of the Krol Group of sedimentary rocks, which include limestone, shale, and sandstone and were created in a shallow marine environment similar to the Tethys Sea. 'These stromatolite-bearing formations were laid down in a shallow marine sea called the Tethys Sea, before India collided with Tibet and the sea was squeezed out,' according to Dr. Ahluwalia. — This area was formerly part of Gondwana, a southern supercontinent that comprised India, South America, Africa, and others. The Indian plate's northward migration and collision with Eurasia raised marine deposits, including stromatolites, thousands of meters into the sky. These are shallow marine deposits found between 5,000 and 6,000 feet above sea level. Conclusion: — A massive outcrop of these stromatolites, dating back 600 million years, was recently discovered in the pine-clad mountains of Chambaghat in Solan district, prompting renewed calls for preservation and public engagement with India's geological legacy. — The oldest stromatolites, dating back 3.6 billion years, are found in Australia. — Other stromatolitic locations in India include Karnataka's Bhima Basin, the Aravalli Supergroup, and Madhya Pradesh's Kadapa Mountains. The older stromatolites can be found in the Shali-deoban area of the Himalaya. Younger stromatolites have a smooth arc and are laminated and hemispheric, whereas older ones are branching and columnar. (Source: 600-million-year-old stromatolites in the Himalayas tell the story of an ocean lost and Earth's first breath) Points to Ponder Read more about stromatolites Related Previous Year Questions How are the fjords formed? Why do they constitute some of the most picturesque areas of the world? (2023) Describe the characteristics and types of primary rocks. (2022) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 106) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 105) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 106) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 105) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 104) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 105) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
