Southern Asia, Australia and the Search for Human Origins
edited by Robin Dennell, Martin Porr
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=DuWfAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA
DITORS:Robin Dennell, University of ExeterMartin Porr, University of Western Australia, Perth
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DATE PUBLISHED: February 2014
According to the authors “ this is the first book to focus on the role of Southern Asia and Australia in our understanding of modern human origins and the expansion of Homo sapiens between East Africa and Australia before 30,000 years ago. With contributions from leading experts that take into account the latest archaeological evidence from India and Southeast Asia, this volume critically reviews current models of the timing and character of the spread of modern humans out of Africa. It also demonstrates that the evidence from Australasia should receive much wider and more serious consideration in its own right if we want to understand how our species achieved its global distribution. Critically examining the “Out of Africa” model, this book emphasizes the context and variability of the global evidence in the search for human origins”.
Blinkhorn and Petraglia wrote Chapter 6: Assessing Models for the Dispersal of Modern Human to South Asia . This chapter is very interesting. We learn that there is little skeletal or archaeological evidence to support the spread of AMH to India between 50-65kya, probably due to changes in the sea level. These changes may have led to many early sites containing AMH remains--presently under water.
The best evidence of AMH in India date back to 30kya. This evidence shows a relationship between Howiesons Poort (South African) and South Indian microlithic industries. This suggest a Khoisan migration into the area, since we see the expansion of Khoisan into western Eurasia around the same time, i.e. the Aurignacian culture. South Indian traditions claim a land mass formerly connected India to East Africa. The increased sea levels suggest that we may never know the actual history for the spread of AMH to India.
Many archaeologist fail to recognize the actual history of AMH in India. They spend their time attempting to make Dravidians the original settlers of India. The original settlers of India are the Munda people. The Dravidians only came to India 4.5kya.
If the Khoisan did settle India they probably introduced haplogroup N lineages R and its derivative U. This would explain the presence of mtDNA R among the Munda. The Munda people may not have took the coastal route to India.
If you are interested in learning more about the Munda see: http://ispub.com/IJBA/4/2/5591
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