Evolutionary Perspective on Narmada Hominin Fossils

Abstract

Understanding of human evolution in South Asia primarily rests on a solitary calvarium (partial skullcap) from Hathnora in the central Narmada valley, but its disputed taxonomic status has blurred the picture. Early explorations (1983-1992) led to the discovery of 2-clavicles and a 9 th rib from Hathnora, but those were so tiny to fit with the calvarium, and fueled the debate whether the calvarium is of a dwarf or a pygmy. Further explorations conducted (2005-2010) brought out 6-femora, 3-humeri and 2-sacra. They were derived from different localities and bio-stratigraphic and archaeological contexts, and posed a challenge of association with the calvarium or with other unknown hominins. The present study is undertaken to address this problem, and the postcranial bones are sorted into possible morphotypes based on criteria of robustness, estimated sex and stature/body size under the control of their contexts. The study distinguished two major morphotypes which reflect the process of humanization in the central Narmada valley and a possible evolutionary scenario for South Asia. The earliest morphotype is a "robust tall hominin", recognized as a unique hybrid cf. H. heidelbergensis, represented by the calvarium and two femora. It appeared around 300-150 ka in association with megaterrestrial fauna and late Acheulian tools-kit. The second morphotype is a "short and stocky" hominin, named Homo narmadensis Sp. Nov. This is hitherto unrecognized hominin represented by eight fossil bones in association with the "Upper Group fauna" and Middle to Upper Palaeolithic industry. It appeared about 150-100 ka and continued to ca. 40 ka, and was the likely precursor to the "short-bodied" ancient populations of India, including the Andaman pygmy.

Quantifying hominin morphological diversity at the end of the middle Pleistocene: Implications for the origin of Homo sapiens

“…It is however important to note that this fossil, a hemi‐calvarium, has been virtually reconstructed by mirroring. It exhibits a peculiar morphology with morphological features found in H. erectus associated with characters found in H. sapiens and specific traits (Kennedy, 2014), making it difficult to decipher its phylogenetic relations (Athreya, 2007; Cameron et al, 2004; Sankhyan, 2020).…”

Palaeolithic Hafting in Himachal Sub-Himalaya

“…Hafted bone tools, and chert arrow-head points at Netankheri U3/U2 interface in association with a human fossil humerus and two sacra datable to ~70 ka (Figure 9). Earlier, the yellow sand Hathnora U1/U2 interface, datable to ~150 ka, had also yielded two tiny hominin clavicles and a 9th rib (Sankhyan, 1997a(Sankhyan, , 1997bSankhyan, 2005), belonging to a "short and stocky" hominin resembling the Andaman pygmy in body dimensions (Sankhyan & Rao, 2007;Sankhyan, 2020b). The Hathnora and Netankheri hominin postcranial fossils establish continuity of the "short and stocky" lineage unto ancient Indian heartland, like Pauri Bhuiya, which share mtDNA signatures with the Andaman pygmy until they branched off ~25 ka.…”

“…So far the author and associates have collected 14 hominin postcranial fossils from different localities in the Central Narmada valley in stratified contexts (Sankhyan, 2017a(Sankhyan, , 2017b(Sankhyan, , 2020b) that suggest it a long solitary "paradise" of Middle to Late Pleistocene hominins in South Asia. None among many Narmada explorers could lay hand on such rare human fossils, perhaps therefore, a few scholars in their superficial overviews create confusion on their stratigraphic contexts.…”