The extreme monsoon climate and associated ancient communities, kingdoms, irrigational advancement in Deccan India during the late Holocene
Journal
Regional Environmental Change
Journal Volume
24
Journal Issue
4
ISSN
1436-3798
1436-378X
Date Issued
2024-11-22
Author(s)
Abstract
Understanding the links between past monsoon fluctuations and water retention features is vital for sustainable societal development amid changing climate conditions. This study presents a 3200-year high-resolution monsoon record from Kadapa cave, comparing it to the migration of ancient communities, irrigation policies, and polity in Deccan, India. The record reveals multiple long-term droughts and floods. Variations in rainfall significantly impacted water sources and nearby rivers. Settlements far from water bodies were abandoned during multi-decadal droughts, while those near rivers migrated to riverbanks, especially in the Tungabhadra corridor. Conversely, settlements in low-lying or cyclone-prone areas on India’s eastern coast were abandoned during high rainfall periods. The Kadapa monsoon record, combined with historical and inscriptional data, suggests that major empires like the Mauryans and Sātavāhanas struggled to maintain irrigation during internal conflicts, contributing to their decline. Later monarchs, particularly the Pallavas, Cholas, Kakatiyas, and Vijayanagara, prioritized constructing and maintaining irrigation facilities. The period from 1000 to 1330 CE, known as the ‘golden era of tanks’, experienced severe droughts and floods, underscoring the importance of tank-based irrigation. Data show that three major advancements in artificial irrigation over the past two millennia were closely linked to extreme monsoon climates. Revitalizing traditional water retention features, such as tanks and ponds, is crucial for addressing contemporary water scarcity in India. These ancient structures offer sustainable solutions for groundwater recharge and irrigation, benefiting both rural and urban communities and ensuring a more resilient future in the face of climate change.
Subjects
Ancient communities
Deccan Indian kingdoms
Extreme monsoon climate
Last three millennia
Tank-based irrigation
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Type
journal article