Akash Pandey

The Late Pleistocene in South Asia, particularly at the onset of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3, presents an archaeologically intricate period marked by the coexistence of multiple techno-assemblages. These include the continuity of the Middle Palaeolithic until ~38 ka, the emergence of microliths at ~48 ka, and the presence of of a blade industry. Consequently, understanding the transition from Prepared Core technologies to subsequent innovations becomes increasingly complex. This research, therefore, aims to examine the blade and bladelet assemblages from South Bihar, India, to understand this transition. The objective is to define the technological characteristics of the blade assemblages and establish a chronological framework to determine whether they evolved from preceding technologies or emerged independently. For this study, Sohdihwa (a Middle Palaeolithic site) and Jurpaniya (an Upper Palaeolithic site) in South Bihar have been selected for excavation, where archaeological and paleoenvironmental data will be systematically collected and analyzed in specialized laboratories to achieve meaningful results. Preliminary study shows that Jurpaniya exhibits a complete reduction sequence of blade and bladelet production. Thus, this project not only highlights transitional assemblages but also addresses the broader complexities of Late Pleistocene archaeology in South Asia.