Revisiting the relationship between palaeovegetation and Indian summer monsoon variability in the Central Ganga Plains

The Central Ganga Plain boasts a rich cultural history and a complex climatic past, shaped mainly by the Indian summer monsoon (ISM).The present study critically assesses current archaeological methodologies for palaeovegetational reconstruction and offers an updated overview of major multi-proxy studies conducted in response to ISM between ~100-2 ka BP.These studies reveal a correlation between high ISM periods and the prevalence of C 3 vegetation, while low ISM periods are associated with C 4 plants.The archaeological record also indicates corresponding adaptations in dietary habits and subsistence strategies.The study emphasizes the need for more localized multi-proxy research to enable inter-site comparisons, aiming for a holistic understanding of the evolution of the Ganga Plains.