Mega Mammals in Ancient India

Mega Mammals in Ancient India PDF Author: Shibani Bose
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199099871
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 462

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Book Description
Since antiquity, big mammals have inspired fear as well as fantasy among humans. Not only do megafauna pervade the domains of religion, art, literature, and folklore, it is also now widely acknowledged that they can serve as important, if not always adequate, indices of environmental quality. In this book, Shibani Bose looks into eras bygone in order to chronicle the journeys of three mega mammals, the rhinoceros, elephant, and tiger, across millennia in early north India. Carefully sifting through archaeological evidence and literary records in Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, and classical Western accounts, Bose documents the presence of these big mammals in diverse cultural contexts, from hunter-gatherer societies to the first urban civilization of India and beyond. This work aims to reconstruct human interactions with these mega species through time while trying to understand the larger ecology of ancient India. This book is especially well-timed as the conservation of our megafaunal heritage is a major concern for biologists, ecologists, and conservationists. It underlines the need to historicize human interactions with these mega mammals with the contention that awareness regarding their past is critical for their future.

Mega Mammals in Ancient India

Mega Mammals in Ancient India PDF Author: Shibani Bose
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199099871
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 462

Get Book Here

Book Description
Since antiquity, big mammals have inspired fear as well as fantasy among humans. Not only do megafauna pervade the domains of religion, art, literature, and folklore, it is also now widely acknowledged that they can serve as important, if not always adequate, indices of environmental quality. In this book, Shibani Bose looks into eras bygone in order to chronicle the journeys of three mega mammals, the rhinoceros, elephant, and tiger, across millennia in early north India. Carefully sifting through archaeological evidence and literary records in Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, and classical Western accounts, Bose documents the presence of these big mammals in diverse cultural contexts, from hunter-gatherer societies to the first urban civilization of India and beyond. This work aims to reconstruct human interactions with these mega species through time while trying to understand the larger ecology of ancient India. This book is especially well-timed as the conservation of our megafaunal heritage is a major concern for biologists, ecologists, and conservationists. It underlines the need to historicize human interactions with these mega mammals with the contention that awareness regarding their past is critical for their future.

The Rhinoceros of South Asia

The Rhinoceros of South Asia PDF Author: Kees Rookmaaker
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004691545
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 891

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Book Description
The rhinoceros is an iconic animal. Three species once inhabited South Asia, two of which disappeared over a century ago. This survey aims to reconstruct the historical distribution of these large mammals resulting in new maps showing the extent of their occurrences. Thousands of sources varied in time and nature are used to study the interactions between man and rhinoceros. The text is supported by over 700 illustrations and 38 maps showing the importance of the rhinoceros in the scientific and cultural fabric of Asia and beyond.

The Story of India's Unicorns

The Story of India's Unicorns PDF Author: Divyabhanusinh
Publisher: Natural History series
ISBN: 9789383243235
Category : Indian rhinoceros
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
- This interdisciplinary volume traces and records the history of the One-horned Rhinoceros from prehistoric times to the present- Through rock carvings and ancient manuscripts, Mughal hunting scenes and Portuguese quilts, British illustrations and photographs of shikar, we get glimpses of India's unicorn- The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and it is entirely up to India, Nepal and possibly Bhutan to ensure that this species survives for all time- While the rhino at present enjoys a 'return' of sorts in its remaining strongholds, it is hoped that this book will generate awareness among a wider audience of the need for continuing and proactive protection of the animal and its habitatIndia is blessed with a unique variety of fauna, not to mention other forms of life. If one were to look at its mega fauna alone, the country boasts of lion, tiger, leopard, elephant, bison, wild buffalo and rhinoceros - more specifically the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, India's unicorn. Two books have preceded this one in The Story series: one on Asia's lions and the other on Asia's elephants. The Story of India's Unicorn, written by three multidisciplinary experts in the fields of natural history, art history and archaeology, is an attempt at recording the history of the animal from prehistoric times to the present, as was done in the other two books. Lucidly written and aptly illustrated, it will be of interest to the historian, the art historian, the wildlife enthusiast and the general reader. The natural habitats of all species of fauna and flora are under threat as a result of the present and ever-increasing pressure of the growing human population which stands today at 1.32 billion in India. The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and it is entirely up to India, Nepal and possibly Bhutan to ensure that this species survives for all time. While the rhino at present enjoys a 'return' of sorts in its remaining strongholds, it is hoped that this book will generate awareness among a wider audience of the need for continuing and proactive protection of the animal and its habitat.

There and Back Again: Afro-Eurasian Exchange in the Neolithic and Bronze Age Periods

There and Back Again: Afro-Eurasian Exchange in the Neolithic and Bronze Age Periods PDF Author: Marie Nicole Pareja
Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1803278064
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
This book evaluates the evidence for indirect connections between the Aegean and the Indus extending back to the third and fourth millennia BCE, particularly commodities such as tin and lapis lazuli, and discusses recently discovered objects, new methods of materials analysis techniques and topics, as well as iconographic investigation.

The Call of Distant Mammoths

The Call of Distant Mammoths PDF Author: Peter D. Ward
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9780387985725
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 270

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Book Description
To help us understand what happened during the Ice Age, Peter Ward takes us on a tour of other mass extinctions through earth's history. He presents a compelling account of the great comet crash that killed off the dinosaurs, and describes other extinctions that were even more extensive. In so doing, he introduces us to a profound paradigm shift now taking place in paleontology: rather than arising from the gradual workings of everyday forces, all mass extinctions are due to unique, catastrophic events. Written with an irresistible combination of passion and expertise, The Call of Distant Mammoths is an engaging exploration of the history of life and the importance of humanity as an evolutionary force. "Carefully argued...an intelligent and compelling book."-THE OLYMPIAN, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON "Ward deftly summarizes a large body of scientific literature, simplifying complex ideas for the general reader without condescension."-PUBLISHERS WEEKLY "Did the overkill really happen?...Peter Ward deftly summarizes the arguments...Ward tells (the story) well."-THE NEW SCIENTIST

Indica

Indica PDF Author: Pranay Lal
Publisher: Random House India
ISBN: 9385990365
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 639

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Book Description
Few places have been as influential as the Indian subcontinent in shaping the course of life on Earth. Yet its evolution has remained largely unchronicled. Indica: A Deep Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent fills this gap. From the oldest rocks, formed three billion years ago in Karnataka, to the arrival of our ancestors 50,000 years ago on the banks of the Indus, the author meticulously sifts through wide-ranging scientific disciplines and through the layers of earth to tell us the story of India, filled with a variety of fierce reptiles, fantastic dinosaurs, gargantuan mammals and amazing plants. Beautifully produced in full colour, with a rare collection of images, illustrations and maps, Indica is full of fascinating, lesser-known facts. It shows us how every piece of rock and inch of soil is a virtual museum, and how, over billions of years, millions of spectacular creatures have reproduced, walked and lived over and under it.

Johnson's Univeral Cyclopædia

Johnson's Univeral Cyclopædia PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Languages : en
Pages : 900

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Book Description


The New International Encyclopædia

The New International Encyclopædia PDF Author: Frank Moore Colby
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Languages : en
Pages : 1766

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Book Description


The Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Encyclopaedia Britannica PDF Author: Hugh Chisholm
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Languages : en
Pages : 1016

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Book Description


The Story of Life in 25 Fossils

The Story of Life in 25 Fossils PDF Author: Donald R. Prothero
Publisher: Columbia University Press
ISBN: 0231539428
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 404

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Book Description
Every fossil tells a story. Best-selling paleontology author Donald R. Prothero describes twenty-five famous, beautifully preserved fossils in a gripping scientific history of life on Earth. Recounting the adventures behind the discovery of these objects and fully interpreting their significance within the larger fossil record, Prothero creates a riveting history of life on our planet. The twenty-five fossils portrayed in this book catch animals in their evolutionary splendor as they transition from one kind of organism to another. We witness extinct plants and animals of microscopic and immense size and thrilling diversity. We learn about fantastic land and sea creatures that have no match in nature today. Along the way, we encounter such fascinating fossils as the earliest trilobite, Olenellus; the giant shark Carcharocles; the "fishibian" Tiktaalik; the "Frogamander" and the "Turtle on the Half-Shell"; enormous marine reptiles and the biggest dinosaurs known; the first bird, Archaeopteryx; the walking whale Ambulocetus; the gigantic hornless rhinoceros Paraceratherium, the largest land mammal that ever lived; and the Australopithecus nicknamed "Lucy," the oldest human skeleton. We meet the scientists and adventurers who pioneered paleontology and learn about the larger intellectual and social contexts in which their discoveries were made. Finally, we find out where to see these splendid fossils in the world's great museums. Ideal for all who love prehistoric landscapes and delight in the history of science, this book makes a treasured addition to any bookshelf, stoking curiosity in the evolution of life on Earth.