‘Western India eco-system unchanged over 5,000 yrs’

Gujarat boasts of over 500 archaeological sites, of which 30 are major ones. But it is only from pre-historic site of Dholavira in the border district that a large number of bones of migratory birds have been found, providing information about the habitat of the winged creatures that existed five thousand years ago.

“Archaeologists often miss out on the bones of these birds which are small and fragile. But, Dholavira has yielded a good number of bones,” said YM Chitalwala, a  retired assistant director of the Archaeological Survey of India.

“The bones indicate, though it has not been established with certainty, that they are of large birds such as ducks, teals, cranes,” Chitalwala added.

“Dholavira is renowned archaeologist RS Bisht’s baby who will be submitting a report on the site. I do not know whether he will include the fauna aspect in his report. The inclusion would provide vital details about the migratory birds visiting the country,” said Chitalwala. 

He also said jars and pots of those times unearthed from the Dholavira mound did have pictures of crows, peacocks and fowls. Moreover, birds change their direction with every change in season and descend at a place where water and food is available for them. “Since migratory birds have for long been coming during winter to western India from Central Asia, Siberia and Europe with clock-like precision, it makes clear that the ecology of western India has not drastically changed in the last 5000 years. “If researchers  look at avian contents in the faunal inventory, they are likely to find bones of even the Great Indian Bustard which still habitat in their only sanctuary grassland of
Abadasa in the state,” he said.