The INQUA-HaBCom (International Union for Quaternary Research – Humans and the Biosphere Commission) Workshop cum Training Programme entitled "Prehistory, Plants and People" in the framework of the ongoing project Palaeoanthropological Perspectives on Plant Communities in South Asia, is jointly organized by the Sharma Centre for Heritage Education (www.sharmaheritage.com) and the French Institute of Pondicherry (www.ifpindia.org) from 18th to 24th January 2016 and will be held partly in both institutions.

This comprises a training workshop and discussion on phytoliths (i.e. optically isotropic microscopic silica form in plant tissues) in the context of prehistory, environmental archaeology, palaeoecology, experimental archaeology and ethnobotany in South Asia. The workshop seeks to situate our ongoing research on phytoliths at the Palaeolithic site of Attirampakkam, Tamil Nadu, South India, in a wider perspective. This would aim at introducing young researchers in the field of prehistory and archaeobotany and palaeoecology to the use of phytoliths to understand the plant resource occupation at prehistoric sites and adaptation to changing palaeoenvironments in South Asia. These studies are placed within the wider context of examining the basic lines of phytolith taphonomy and the nature of human adaptation to changing Quaternary environments, with a component on inferences drawn from studies of material culture (e.g. lithics) from archaeological stratigraphy. As stone artefacts comprise the primary source of evidence for much of the prehistoric past, experimental studies will introduce participants to the range of techniques in the manufacture and use of prehistoric stone artifacts. We also introduce ethnobotanical and ethnoarchaeological components related to traditional plant exploitation in India. Aspects of later cultural phases will also be discussed. The workshop will comprise lectures, hands-on training in field and laboratory techniques and methods, experimental tool manufacture and use, and field-visits. Participants will also be invited to present posters/powerpoints on their research.

Venues:

Sharma Centre for Heritage Education, Conference Hall, 28, I Main Road, C.I.T Colony, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004
French Institute of Pondicherry, Indology Hall, 11 Saint Louis street, Pondicherry

Program

18th January, Monday

Arrival at the SCHE at 8.40 am

9.00-9.20 am: Inauguration

Session 1: 9.30-11.00: Introduction to the Workshop

Aim: This session aims at introducing participants to the context of this INQUA-HaBCom workshop and to set the agenda for future studies. This session will also introduce the archaeological context for the studies of phytoliths in India.

9.30-9.45: Brief introduction to the aims of this workshop and outline of the structure for archaeology and palaeobotany related themes: S.Pappu and K. Anupama

9.45-10.30: Introducing South Asian prehistory: Part 1: An overview of South Asian prehistory; Part 2: Research at Attirampakkam and other prehistoric sites along the southeast coast of India: Kumar Akhilesh and Shanti Pappu

Tea break: 10.45-11.00 am

Session 2: 11.00-12.30: Introducing Pollen and Phytoliths in Palaeobotany and Archaeology

Aim: This session introduces participants to the study of phytoliths and their significance in palaeobotanical, ecological and archaeological studies.

11-11.40 am: An Overview of Phytoliths at Archaeological Sites in South Asia: Mode Of Formation, Archaeological And Palaeoecological Significance.

Part 1: Introduction to the study of Phytoliths: R.Premathilake;

Part 2: Phytolith studies At Rockshelter Sites in Sri Lanka: R.Premathilake

Part 3: At the Palaeolithic site of Attirampakkam: R.Premathilake Kumar, Akhilesh, Anupama, K., Shanti Pappu, S.Prasad, G.Orukaimani

11-45-12.30 am: Palynological studies in South Asian paleoecology: An overview: K.Anupama and S.Prasad

Lunch break: 12.30-1.30 pm

Session 3: 1.30-5: Prehistoric Subsistence: Tools and Technology Theory & Observations

Aim: This section will introduce participants to prehistoric lithic technological strategies through time. Stone tools were the primary interface between prehistoric populations and nature, for purposes of subsistence. The focus lies on theory, observation of archaeological and experimental tools and lithic knapping (tool manufacture). An understanding of prehistoric technology and tool types used for subsistence and other activities will enable a better understanding of ways in which people adapted to changing palaeoenvironments. (Extra introductory lectures will be held for participants who have specializations other than archaeology).

1.30-2.30: Introduction to lithic technological strategies and earliest stone tool technologies (Lecture with observation of archaeological and experimentally knapped artefacts): S.Pappu and Kumar Akhilesh.

2.40-3.40: Understanding the Prehistoric Mind through Technology with Special Reference to Lithic Technology [Cognitive aspects of prehistoric lithic technology]: Prakash Sinha

3.40-3.50: Tea Break

3.50-6.00: Experimentation

Experimental ‘flint-knapping’: Introduction to simple modes of stone tool manufacture. Participants will be introduced to simple techniques in flaking stone, to grasp properties of raw materials, techniques used by Plio-Early Pleistocene hominins in tool manufacture, and will observe experimental and archaeological artefacts of all time periods.

Poster Session: 6-7 pm

19th January, Tuesday

Special Lecture: 9.30 to 10.15am: Producers of phytoliths – The higher plants with an emphasis on Herbaceous flora –Ecological and Social importance D. Narasimhan

This overarching lecture will introduce the distribution of herbaceous taxa in Tamil Nadu to the archeologists and highlight their ecological and social importyance in order to provide a perspective for interpretation of these taxa as markers.

Session 4: 9.30-11.30: Reconstructing Past Environments: Phytoliths and Other Proxies

Aim: This theme aims at introducing participants to diverse proxies and approaches used to reconstruct past environments. These are situated in the context of human adaptation to past environments through time.

10.30-11.15: The Diatoms: Glass Houses to Infer Past and Present Environmental Conditions: Karthick Balasubramanian

Working

Tea Break: 11.15-11.30

11.30-12.15 Palaeoethnobotanical Studies In India: Satish S. Naik

Session 5: From the Present to the Past: Plants and People through time

Aim: This theme aims at introducing participants archaeological and ethnographic data on subsistence patterns amongst diverse communities (past and present). These are key to interpreting changing modes of adaptation over the Quaternary, and debate issues related to diverse ways in which plants have formed an essential component of human resources through time.

12.15-01.15: Neolithic-Chalcolithic and Early Historic of Eastern India: Cultural evolution and subsistence: R.K. Mohanty

1.00 to 1.15: Poster presentations/ Questions and Discussions on talks

Lunch Break: 1.30-2.30 pm

Session 6:2.30-4.00: Prehistoric Subsistence: Tools and Technology Theory & Observations

Aim: This section will introduce participants to prehistoric lithic technological strategies through time. The focus lies on theory, observation of archaeological and experimental tools and lithic knapping (tool manufacture). An understanding of prehistoric technology and tool types used for subsistence and other activities, will enable a better understanding of ways in which people adapted to changing palaeoenvironments. (A special introductory lecture will be held for participants who are specializations other than archaeology).

2.30-3.15: Vegetal Signature on Stone Tools: Socio-economic and Cultural Inferences [Short Introducing tool use on plant material]: Prakash Sinha

3.30-5.30: Experimentation

Aim: Participants will be introduced to Middle to Late Pleistocene techniques in flaking stone (Levallois, blade and microlithic) and will observe experimental and archaeological artefacts. In addition they will be given a range of stone tools to be used for collection of plant material for further laboratory studies and experiments, and encouraged to think about problems and issues in tool use.

6.00-7.00: Special Skype Lecture: Phytolith research in Africa: what we learned by studying modern plants and soils that is of use for understanding past vegetation and prehistoric use of plant resources: Doris Barboni (on skype)

20th Jan, Wednesday

Session 7: 9.30-1.30: From the Present to the Past: Plants and People through time

9.30-10.15: Food and Siddha medicine: Brigitte Sebastia

10.30-11.15: Ethnographic Models for the Interpretation of Subsistence Patterns in the Indian Stone Age: M.L.K. Murty

11.15-11.30: Tea Break

11-30-12.15: Poster Session

12.15-1.30: Walk through the medicinal garden

Lunch: 1.30-2.30

Session 8: 2.30-5.00: Introducing Prehistoric Technologies: Theory & Experimentation

Decoding Symbolism of Prehistoric Tools: An Analytical Micro-wear strategy [Introduction to micro-wear]: Prakash Sinha

Theory & Observations

Aim: This section will introduce participants to prehistoric lithic technological strategies through time. The focus lies on theory, observation of archaeological and experimental tools and lithic knapping (tool manufacture). An understanding of prehistoric technology and tool types used for subsistence and other activities will enable a better understanding of ways in which people adapted to changing palaeoenvironments. (A special introductory lecture will be held for participants who are specializations other than archaeology).

Experimentation

2.30-5.00: Experimental ‘flint-knapping’: Introduction to simple modes of stone tool manufacture: Kumar Akhilesh, P. Sinha, S.Pappu

Aim: Participants will be introduced to Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene techniques in flaking stone (blade and microlithic) and will observe experimental and archaeological artefacts. Participants will begin structured experiments in tool use on plant materials.

Poster Session: 5.30-7.00 pm

21st January, Thursday

Session 9: From the Site to the Lab: Field visit

Aim: Understanding and identifying grass and other herbaceous communities, introduction to tool use on plants and collection of plant materials. Two site visits: Aranya Forest, Poothurai & Project Ecolake, Ouseteri: Hosts & On site resource persons: Mr. D. Saravanan, Mr. Prakash Patel, Ms. Lipi Das & Mr Pradeep. Participants will be introduced to identification of grasses, and other herbaceous species. They will be introduced to methods of collection of samples for phytolith analysis from plants as also collection of sediment samples from sections available. Training in data collection and recording methods will be provided.

Departure from Chennai and breakfast en route: 7.30 am

Arrival at field site 1: Aranya forest near Pondicherry:

visit and lunch : 11-2 pm; Visit to Project Ecolake (Ouseteri): 2- 5 pm

Cocktail: 6.30 to 7.30 pm

Dinner: 8.00 pm

22nd January, Friday

Session 10: 8.30-9.15: Reconstructing Past Environments: Phytoliths and Other Proxies

8.30-9.15: Special Lecture on environmental indications in South Indian epigraphy: Prof Y. Subbarayalu

Session 11: 9.30-5.30: From the Site to the Lab and Tools under a Microscope

Participants will be divided into two groups for this session. Working tea breaks will be included.

Group 1: From the Site to the Lab – Laboratory of Palynology & Paleoecology, IFP This session will focus on the methodology used for extraction of phytoliths and subsequent stages in processing. Participants will examine phytoliths of different species under the microscope. Experts will be involved in the discussion at every stage. (IFP)

1. Lab demonstration of steps to: a) extract phytoliths from plants, b) prepare Type Slides; c) understand the types of phytoliths by examination under a microscope; d) modes of observation and data recording; and e) Phytolith classification and grouping

2. Discussions with expert resource persons.

Group 2: Tools Under a Microscope: Department of Earth Sciences, Pondicherry University Participants will be exposed to the science of microwear analysis following tool use on plant material. They will use tools under expert guidance and then proceed to study and record the differing types of edge damage observed. Examples from archaeology will be highlighted.

1. Practicals involving studies of tools, including analysis of edge angles and other properties of the artefacts; b) Continuation of experiments of tool use on botanical material; c) Macroscopic and microscopic studies of tool edges before and after use; d) Discussion with experts on the use of plant species for ethnobotanical purposes;

1-5: From the Site to the Lab and Tools under a Microscope: Groups will change places. Group 1: Tools Under a Microscope and Group 2: From the Site to the Lab

23rd January, Saturday

Session 12: 8.30-09.45: From the Present to the Past: Plants and People through time

Aim: This section will introduce participants to palaeoenvironments and cultural development in later archaeological time phase and in the ethnographic context.

08.30-09.15: Grasses of the Western Ghats: Floral Diversity: P. Ravichandran

09.20-09.40: Traditional use by the Todas resurrects an extinct grass: JeanPhilippe Puyravaud

09.40-10.00: Plants, Textile Dyes and fibres plant materials in weaving: V. Manimekalai

10.00-10.45: Phytolith a proxy tool in Palaeoclimate and Archeological studies Vandana Prasad

Tea break : 10.45-11.00

11.00-11.45: The Iron Age and Early Historic Transition in South India: K.Rajan

Session 13: 11.45-01.3 pm: Perspectives from the Earth

Aim: This section will introduce participants to geology and Quaternary geomorphological environments in Southern India. A focus will be laid on rocks used by prehistoric populations for manufacture of lithic artefacts. Each talk will be for 35 minutes each, with 10 minutes between lectures and a group discussion at the end

11.45-12.30: Geological outline of southern India: S. Balakrishnan

12.30-01.15: Introduction to Quaternary environments of South India: Pramod Singh

Lunch 1.30-2.30 pm

Session 14: 2.30-5: Reconstructing Past Environments: Phytoliths and Other Proxies

Posters /discussions & continuation of Lab session: From Site to Lab

Dinner: 7.45pm

24th January, Sunday

Session 15: Discussion/Lab work/Posters

8.30-11.00: Discussion, Continued Lab work

Session 18: Valedictory Function

11.00-12.00: Valedictory Function

Lunch 12-1.00 and check out of hotel and return to Chennai

3-5: Visit to Mahabalipuram en route Return to hotel in Chennai by 5.00 pm Dinner at the SCHE at 7.00 pm

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