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{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
'''Jwalapuram''' (meaning "City of fire" in [[Sanskrit]]/[[Telugu language|Telugu]]) is an [[archaeological site]] in the [[Kurnool district]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[southern India]], which shows [[hominid]] habitation before and after the [[Toba event]] (73 kya) according to the [[Toba catastrophe theory]].<ref>Patel, Samir S. (January/February 2008). "[http://www.archaeology.org/0801/topten/paleolithic_tools.html Paleolithic Tools, Jwalapuram Valley, India]," ''Archaeology'', '''61''' (1)</ref><ref>Petraglia, Michael, ''et al.'' (6 July 2007). "[https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1141564 Middle Paleolithic Assemblages from the Indian Subcontinent Before and After the Toba Super-Eruption]," ''Science'' '''317''' (5834): 114-116</ref> It is unclear what species of humans settled Jwalapuram as no fossil remains have yet been found.<ref>Balter, Michael (5 March 2010). "[https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.327.5970.1187-a Of Two Minds About Toba's Impact]," ''Science'' '''327''' (5970): 1187-1188</ref><ref>Haslam, Michael (1 May 2012), [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1040618211005088 A southern Indian Middle Palaeolithic occupation surface sealed by the 74 ka Toba eruption: Further evidence from Jwalapuram Locality 22], [[Quaternary International]] Volume 258, Pages 148–164</ref>

[[File:Pre Historic Mid Krishna-Tungabhadra Valley sites.jpg|thumb|The location of Jwalapuram in context with other prehistoric sites in the region of river valleys of [[Krishna River]] and [[Tungabhadra River]].]]

Jwalapuram is of particular importance in understanding the emergence of microlithic technology in South Asia and the role of environmental change on lithic technological change. At Jwalapuram Locality 9, five stratigraphic units provide a record of technological change through time. Microblade technology dominates lithic assemblages from Stratum E to the top deposit. There are many different definitions for "microblade" and Clarkson et al. define microblade with a 40mm maximum length in the direction of striking and a length:width ratio greater than 2:1; they also include that the dorsal surface has nearly no cortex (less than 20 percent) and at least on dorsal ridge in the direction of striking as well as nearly parallel lateral margins.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Clarkson|first1=Chris|last2=Petraglia|first2=Michael|last3=Korisettar|first3=Ravi|last4=Haslam|first4=Michael|last5=Boivin|first5=Nicole|last6=Crowther|first6=Alison|last7=Ditchfield|first7=Peter|last8=Fuller|first8=Dorian|last9=Miracle|first9=Preston|last10=Harris|first10=Claire|last11=Connell|first11=Kate|last12=James|first12=Hannah|last13=Koshy|first13=Jinu|title=The oldest and longest enduring microlithic sequence in India: 35000 years of modern human occupation and change at the Jwalapuram Locality 9 rockshelter|journal=Antiquity|date=2009|volume=83|issue=320|pages=326–348|doi=10.1017/S0003598X0009846X}}</ref> Using this definition of microblade, Clarkson et al. track the changing density of microblade technology throughout the strata. The changes in microlithic technology is speculated to have been caused by climate change, which made the area more arid and therefore groups of people had to become more mobile, causing changes in their technological tool kits.<ref>Clarkson, C., Petraglia, M., Korisettar, R., Haslam, M., Boivin, N., Crowther, A., Ditchfield, P., Fuller, D., Miracle, P., Harris, C., Connell, K., James, H. & Koshy, J. 2009. The oldest and longest enduring microlithic sequence in India: 35,000 years of modern human occupation and change at the Jwalapuram Locality 9 rockshelter. Antiquity 83: 326-348.</ref>

The archaeological site was visited by Dr. [[Alice Roberts]], presenter of the BBC documentary [[The Incredible Human Journey]].<ref>Roberts, Alice (31 May 2009) [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kwdgp The Incredible Human Journey - Part 4 - Australia]</ref>

==Notes==
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[[Category:Archaeology of India]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Paleoanthropological sites]]

{{Kurnool-geo-stub}}

Jwalapuram - Revision history

UpdateBot at 01:55, 30 June 2022