Palaeoecological Insights and Techno-Typological Characteristics of Microlithic Assemblages in the Barapahad Hill and Jhaun River Valley of Bargarh Upland, Odisha

The principal concern of the present treatise is to methodically concentrate upon the newly identified Microlithic sites situated along the banks of the Jhaun river and the adjoining foothill precincts of the Barapahad hill, located within the Bargarh district of Odisha. The Jhaun river, widely regarded as a paramount tributary of the Mahanadi River system, appears to have functioned as a vital geographical and ecological corridor for sustained human occupation. This occupation seemingly extended across a broad cultural continuum, encompassing prehistoric phases from the Paleolithic through to the Neolithic epochs. Within the framework of a systematic archaeological inquiry, scholars have discerned six significant Microlithic locales strategically distributed throughout the surveyed terrain. These sites exhibit a rich concentration of lithic artefacts and material culture, reflective of the technological and adaptive strategies employed by early hominin populations. The artefactual assemblages retrieved from both the Jhaun riverine system and the Barapahad hill disseminate invaluable empirical data, particularly in relation to settlement dynamics, mobility patterns, and resource utilization among prehistoric communities inhabiting this region. These findings underscore the importance of this landscape as a favorable ecological niche that potentially supported seasonal or long-term habitation. The ongoing research encapsulates a meticulous and exhaustive analysis of the Microlithic deposits recently unearthed from this area, aiming to reconstruct cultural processes through stratigraphic, typological, and spatial studies. This investigation further contributes to a broader understanding of early human occupation and technological evolution in eastern-central India.