Executive Summary : | The study of human-environment interactions is crucial in the field of archaeological research, as it addresses challenges posed by environmental shifts like climate change, sea-level rise, extreme climatic events, and the rapid growth of anthropogenic activities. The Quaternary period holds valuable records of human evolution, culture, civilizations, and significant global climate changes, including glacial and inter-glacial periods. The Holocene era marked a notable shift in vegetation, leading to the loss of woodland areas and the emergence of populated regions and extensive agricultural landscapes. To date, there is no conclusive evidence of early Holocene cooling or drying periods, nor any persuasive records of the 8.2 ka BP event in Northeast India. However, studies have shown a close link between the 4.2 ka BP event and the collapse of various cultures, such as the Neolithic Cultures of the Central Plain of China, the Akkadian empire, and the Harappan civilization. The impact of this climatic event on human cultures in Northeast India, particularly the Early-Mid Holocene hunting-gathering and Neolithic societies in regions like Naga Hills, Khasi-Jaintia Hills, Lushai Hills, Manipur, and Tripura, remains poorly understood. Recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) highlight the accelerated rates of human-associated activities over the last 2000 years, significantly impacting natural climate and vegetation dynamics, leading to an unpredictable future scenario. To gain a comprehensive understanding of past human-environment interactions, the present study will focus on investigating tropical cave environments, specifically limestone karst and sandstone caves, in the Northeast region. |