K.A.R. Kennedy, J.R. Lukacs & V.N. Misra (ed.). The biological anthropology of human skeletal remains from Bhimbetka, central India.

Petraglia, Michael D.

xvii+107 pages, 39 figures, 15 tables. 2002. Pune: Indian Society for Prehistoric & Quaternary Studies; hardback Rs250, paperback Rs190.

Bhimbetka represents one of the most important prehistoric rock-shelter and cave complexes in India. More than 1000 rock-shelters and caves have been counted over an area extending only 2 sq. km, most providing evidence for human activity in the form of extraordinary rock art and rich archaeological remains. A total of 16 of the most promising sites have been excavated, yielding significant Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Chalcolithic, Iron Age and Historic deposits. This volume is specifically geared towards developing an understanding of the human remains in eight of the excavated sites. The skeletal remains were excavated by different teams beginning in the early 1970s, resulting in this synthetic bio-anthropological treatment some 30 years later.

The Introduction of the book summarizes the history of excavations conducted at Bhimbetka, briefly reviewing chronological sequences and major archaeological findings. From the outset it is obvious that there is uncertainty in assigning clear relative and absolute ages to some of the skeletal remains found in various shelters and stratigraphic contexts. The remainder of the book is divided into three parts, Archaeological Context, Biological Anthropology and Summary & Conclusions. Part 1 describes the archaeological and depositional context of the burials, making good use of illustrations and photographs to demonstrate the location and layout of the skeletal remains. Part 2 forms the empirical heart of this book, each of the three chapters describing the skeletal biology of the burials uncovered by various excavators. The osteological observations and metrical analyses in the three chapters were separately undertaken and described by three biological anthropologists (S.C. Tiwari, John R. Lukacs, Kenneth A.R. Kennedy). Although the skeletal sample was limited, the chapters include sections on bone element representation, bone preservation, bone measurements, stature estimates, sex and age determinations and morphology. Dental stresses are among the interesting findings, with incidences of enamel hypoplasia, severe occlusal wear and tooth loss. Pathologies included a probable case of osteomyelitis and a parietal lesion characteristic of a treponemal disease. While the three biological anthropologists overlap in common approaches and methods, there are certain differences in skeletal reporting, probably owing to both preservation conditions and the depth to which each of the analysts considered study appropriate.

A single synthetic chapter, only a slim seven pages in length, forms the third part of the book. Two main conclusions are reached in the analysis of the Bhimbetka skeletons; first, that the burials show considerable biological diversity, and secondly, that the late Palaeolithic to Historic sequence provides evidence for population continuity. In defending these conclusions, Lukacs and Kennedy squeeze out as much contextual information as is possible from the limited sample of Bhimbetka skeletal remains. Drawing on their excellent familiarity with the biological evidence of South Asia, Lukacs and Kennedy note that tooth-crown area for Mesolithic peoples of Bhimbetka was relatively small. This leads them to conclude that cultural and dietary models (as opposed to environmental and genetic factors) are the most likely explanation for tooth-size variations, although this argument is not elaborated upon here. Although only available from two Bhimbetka skeletons, a more involved comparative review is undertaken for stature variation. The two Bhimbetka skeletons from which stature was deducible are said to be relatively short, while their sexual dimorphism falls within the middle range of values in comparative prehistoric samples. The stature information is inferred to be consistent with data that indicates an adaptive trend towards shorter stature found in South Asian populations undergoing the transition from foraging lifestyles to food-producing societies.

Although this work is a much-needed publication on the biological anthropology of an important archaeological site complex, there are some significant weaknesses. Perhaps due to the fact that the Bhimbetka skeletal remains were recovered in different excavations, and subsequently studied by three different biological anthropologists, the book is not an easy read, and it is sometimes difficult to follow the presentation within and between chapters. The book is not an in-depth cross-comparative study, but rather, it is a very brief report, the entire work confined to only 107 pages inclusive of text, figures, tables and references. There are some unusual conventions, including the fact that chapters are written by only five contributors, three of whom serve as both chapter contributors and book editors. Chapters by some of the Indian colleagues were noted to be excerpts from field notes, which probably explains some condensed descriptions and rough prose, including the terse chapter by V.S. Wakankar, published 14 years after his death.

While the editors should be applauded in pulling together a bio-anthropological synthesis so long after the conclusion of the excavations, this book will probably be disappointing to those who have wished to see more in-depth archaeological and bioarchaeological studies emerge from the Bhimbetka excavations. It is likely to appeal to a relatively limited professional group of researchers, particularly those who are interested in assembling information about what was found at Bhimbetka, and those who are specifically interested in the biological anthropology of prehistoric populations of South Asia.

MICHAEL D. PETRAGLIA
Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies
Department of Biological Anthropology
University of Cambridge
[email protected]