1991-92 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

Maastrichtian marker taxa and presence of a fern spike.••Pollen analytical investigation of 12 glacier dust samples from Dunagiri Glacier,Garhwal Himalaya revealed presence of broad-leaved Quercus, Betula, Alnus, Carpinus,Ulmus and Celtis, Pinus, Abies, Picea and Cedrus in low values. Poaceae,alongwith Cheno/Ams, Ranunculaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, etc. are the prominentherbaceous elements. Palynology of 4.30 meter deep profile dated 3800 yearsB.P. from Rambha on south east flank of Chilka Lake enabled to divide whole timespan into two phases, between 3,800 - 2,000 yrs. B.P. records the existence of welldeveloped core-mangrove forest and from 2,000 yrs. B.P. till date records the overalldegradation of core- mangrove vis-a-vis uprise in the values of hinterland taxa. Treesamples of Cedrus deodara from Harshil in Uttarka'shi have been dated and a 745yrs long (1243-1987) chronology has been prepared. Another chronology of Pinuswallichiana growing in sub-alpine mesic site in Gangotri ranges from 1694 - 1988AD. The occurrence of hemplbhang (Cannabis sativa) charcoals from Neolithic­Chalcolithic site at Senuwar, Rohtas, Bihar (Ca 2000-600 B.C.) suggests the exploitationof narcotic properties of this plant. The occurrence of pomegranate (Punicagranatum) from Rohira, Punjab (ca. 2000 - 1700 B.C.) suggests the cultivation ofpomegranate in the orchard husbandry of Harappans.A core of lake deposit from Orissa relating to the study on the evolution ofmangrove vegetation was dated to 3470 ± 170 yrs at a depth of 3.5 m. A carbonaceousocean-sediment core from Andaman Sea was dated using the organic fractionof the sediment. The C-14 age at a depth of 33 cm is 11850 yrs and at 1.0 m it is­21000 yrs. Charcoal samples relating 10 archaeological studies from Mesolithicculture of Kerala has been dated for the first time at 2850 ± 80 yrs B.P. Petrifiedwood samples collected from Deccan Intertrappean beds have been dated using theAuto Scan system; the F-T ages of petrified woods from different localities nearShahpura in Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh are Ghghua: 57 ± 8 ma, Umaria: 56±7 ma, Silther: 53 ± 9 ma, Parapani: 54 ± 7 ma and Mehdwani: 58 ± 8 ma.The Research Programming and Planning Group consisting of Drs H.P. Singh,K.P. Jain, H.K. Maheshwari and R.S. Tiwari helped to prepare this document. DrA Rajanikanth rendered considerable help in bringing out this report. The printingof this report has been looked after by Dr J.S. Antal. .(B.S. VENKATACHALA)Director(v)