A team of archaeologists led by Devara Anil Kumar, an assistant professor in the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History at Maharaja Sayaji Rao University, Vadodara, India, in collaboration with experts from Germany, Australia, and the US, discovered a 41,000-year-old ostrich nest in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh in June 2024. This massive ostrich nest measured between 9–10 feet in width and was once home of about 9–11 eggs. This nest had the capacity to hold 30–40 ostrich eggs. The discovery was made in a 1 by 1.5-metre area, where nearly 3,500 ostrich eggshell fragments were found. The unearthed ostrich nest has been considered the oldest known ostrich nest in the world. This finding provides significant evidence of the presence of ostriches in South India. The discovery also offers crucial data on the extinction of this megafauna, providing valuable insights into their past existence and disappearance.
Megafauna
The term ‘megafauna’ is used to describe animals that weigh over 50 kg. However, its definition has been under debate in scientific literature. English naturalist and explorer Alfred Russel Wallace was the first to use this term in 1876. He wrote about it in his book, The Geographical Distribution of Animals. Megafauna could be categorised into three groups. These groups are based on their dietary type. The groups are mega herbivores—which are only plant eaters, mega carnivores—which are only meat-eaters, and mega omnivores—which eat both plants and meat. Ostriches are classified as mega omnivores. They eat both plants and meat. Adult ostriches weigh between 90 and 140 kg. They stand between seven and nine feet tall.
Significance of the Discovery
The discovery of this ostrich nest in Andhra Pradesh proves the existence of ostriches in southern India as early as 41,000 years ago. This finding augments the need for research on why megafauna went extinct in India. The earliest evidence of ostriches in the subcontinent was found in the Dhok Pathan deposits in Upper Siwalik Hills in present-day Pakistan which was dated back over two million years and in Katoti, Rajasthan dating back around 60,000 years. Richard Lydekker had documented this evidence in 1884. He had identified the species as Struthio asiaticus, or the Asian ostrich. This species was named by Richard Milne-Edwards in 1871. In 1989, archaeologist S.A. Sali found ostrich eggshell beads in Maharashtra. These beads dated back to 50,000–40,000 years ago. The beads were found at an Upper Palaeolithic open-air camping site in Patne, Maharashtra.
In 2017, researchers at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad conducted a study to assess the ages of the fossilised eggshells from three states: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. The study established that ostriches were present in India around 25,000 years ago. Researchers also explained that ostriches came to India due to bio-geographical dispersion. This dispersion was the result of the continental drifting of Gondwanaland.
Gondwanaland was a supercontinent that split into the seven continents that we have presently. The continental drift allowed ostriches to migrate and inhabit new regions, including India.
A study, published in 2020, involving researchers from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, USA compiled a database of fossils obtained from 25 sites in India. The study was titled Late Quaternary extinctions in the Indian Subcontinent. Researchers have found that large animals began to disappear in India almost around 30,000 years ago. This disappearance coincided with the arrival of humans in the region. The study has established a link between human arrival and the extinction of large animals in India.
The study also supported the ‘coevolution hypothesis’. This hypothesis suggested that fauna had developed resilience to large-scale extinction through coevolution with hominins (humans and their relatives). Geographic isolation and abiotic factors might have accelerated the extinction process. The study also highlighted the need for robust datasets for better understanding of megafauna extinction in the subcontinent. There has been a general consensus existing among researchers on this need. Robust datasets would help to clarify the extinction process and its underlying factors. This understanding is crucial for effective conservation and management of the remaining species.
Conclusion
The discovery of this huge ostrich nest in Andhra Pradesh is a significant archaeological find that offers a glimpse into India’s distant past. It provides valuable insights into the prehistoric environment, the presence of megafauna, and the potential interactions between early humans and these extinct species. As research continues, this discovery may help to unravel more mysteries about the upper-Palaeolithic period in India, contributing to our understanding of human history and change over the millennia.
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