Arcellaceans and pollen/spores of a late Harappan settlement near Porbandar, west coast of India: Implications for palaeoecology and environmental monitoring

Abstract

Archaeological sites have been a storehouse of information on various aspects of the past, including climatic conditions and hydrological characteristics in a particular time bracket. Recent excavation near Porbandar has brought to light a late Bronze Age settlement close to Porbandar creek. The archaeological artefacts have close similarities with those of other Harappan settlements in the Saurashtra region. Soil samples were collected and analysed for pollen content. The samples show shallow riverine depositional environment, which was influenced by relative sea-level rise and fall corresponding to warm and dry climatic periods. The area was devoid of vegetation except anthropogenic Sesbania plantation in the middle of late Holocene. This communication also elucidates the role of Arcellaceans (testate amoebae) for analysing palaeoecological and climatic hydroperiods during the human settlement (early to mid 2nd millennium BC) around Porbandar region.