Sedimentological study of major paleonto-archaeological localities of the Late Pliocene Quranwala zone, Siwalik Frontal Range, northwestern India

摘要: Abstract Since 2008, the Indo-French research program ‘Siwaliks’ has been prospecting in Late Pliocene formations of Chandigarh anticline Northwest India (Siwalik Frontal Range, Himalayan foothills). More than 200 quartzite tools and 1500 terrestrial vertebrate fossils have collected from a continental formation near village Masol. Several show exceptional cut marks. A complete geological investigation this area was performed order to reconstruct paleoenvironment. The sequences three major paleonto-archeological localities, Masol 1, 6 13, were studied. Silt sandstone samples Quranwala fossiliferous correlate stratigraphy among localities understand origins sediments. Three different techniques used analyze sediments: granulometric approach, X-ray diffraction an analysis heavy minerals. sediment demonstrates relationship between sample dismantling Higher as well Lesser Himalaya. During Pliocene, floodplain with rich freshwater fauna. rivers relatively calm, indicated by presence apatite. Despite this, quasi-simultaneous accumulations cobbles clay, carcasses small large herbivores, suggest sudden climate variations probably due monsoon.