The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered a camping site in Ladakh that dates back from 8500 BC. It extends from Saser La to Karakoram Pass.
Dr SB Ota, Director General of ASI observed successive layers of some burning residue that were exposed due to the road construction, while he was exploring Nubra Valley.
Following a closer observation, he found the residue to be of charcoal and sent to BETA LAB in Florida.
The radiocarbon dating of the charcoal revealed that it was 10, 500 years old. To be precise the charcoal residue which has been excavated hints that the camping site existed before the Mohenjo Daro period.
Reportedly more samples collected from the site indicated that human activities took place in the site for 800 years continuously.
“The research so far carried out has proved the antiquity and nature of human activities to an extent, but their camping patterns, extent of camping area, tools and other cultural aspects are yet to be traced,” ASI was quoted.
The skeletal remains of animal retrieved from the site indicated that Gorel and Yak were also present in that location at the period of time.
“The discovery is significant because the site is known as a ‘dry snow desert’, an area where temperatures sway between -30 to -40 degree Celsius. There’s barely any vegetation and survival is difficult. The discovery is historical because it proves that man could negotiate such a difficult terrain, while we thought otherwise,” Ota was quoted by DNA.
However, researcher have not found any information on kind of dwellers who camped in the site.
