Previous Year Question
From which rock shelter of Vindhyas, maximum number of human skeletons have been found?
Morahana Pahar
Ghagharia
Baghahi Khor
Lekhahia
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Lekhahia is an important Mesolithic rock-shelter complex in the Vindhyan region of Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh. It is situated about 69 km from Mirzapur.
The Lekhahia group consists of five rock shelters. Of these, Rock Shelter-I and Rock Shelter-II were excavated in 1964 by V. D. Misra of the Department of Ancient History, Culture and Archaeology, University of Allahabad, under the direction of Professor G. R. Sharma.
The most important fact is that 17 fragmentary human skeletal/burial remains were recovered from Rock Shelter-I. On the basis of stratigraphy and overlapping graves, 14 of these skeletons were assigned to 8 different periods. This skeletal evidence distinguishes Lekhahia from the other sites given in the options.
Apart from human skeletons, the site also yielded geometric and non-geometric microliths, pieces of red ochre, and paintings of animals, hunting scenes and processions on the walls and ceiling of the shelter. Thus, the site represents not only burial activity but also Mesolithic habitation and cultural activity.