Palaeo-path investigation of the lower Ajay River (India) using archaeological evidence and applied remote sensing

Abstract

Numerous palaeochannels, oxbow lakes and elongated sediment fills in Eastern India, particularly along the lower Ajay River, provide a record of channel shifting during the Late Quaternary. Proper characterization of these features is useful for discussing the dynamic evolution of the river system in the Ajay-Damodar Interfluve region. Remote sensing data, archaeological evidence and sedimentology aid in reconstructing the geomorphic history of the lower Ajay River. Archaeological studies help in calculating the rate and direction of channel migration. The channel migration rate varies from 0.32 to 3.41 m/year in the study area. Bouguer gravity anomalies suggest that the rate of channel migration may be controlled by the density variations of the basement rocks. Furthermore, neotectonics activity played a significant role in the migration of Ajay River towards north-east direction.

Keywords:

• Palaeochannel
• archaeological evidence
• remote sensing
• rock density
• channel migration
• neotectonics

Acknowledgements

The corresponding author would like to acknowledge University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India, for fellowship as Junior Research Fellow to carry out the research work. The authors would also like to thank two of their friends Ratanpriya (Research Scholar, CSRD, JNU) and Poushali Roy (Assistant Professor, K.M.M. Mahavidyalaya, Purulia, W.B.) for their suggestions. The corresponding author heartily thank to the Dr Alpa Sridhar (DST Women Scientist, Department of Geology, M. S. University of Baroda, India) and Dr Reyaz Ahmad Dar (Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India) for their special attention on the copy-editing of the paper. We also thank to the anonymous reviewer and Professor Lulla, Editor of Geocarto International for their constructive comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1895, p. 72–73.