How are ecologists using Marathi literature to study landscape history?

Ecologists are analyzing traditional Marathi texts from the 13th to 20th centuries, including folklore and biographies, to find descriptions of landscapes and vegetation.

What does the research reveal about Maharashtra's past ecosystems?

The research suggests that western Maharashtra historically featured ancient tropical savannas rather than dense forests, with surprising landscape consistency over 750 years.

Why is it important to study the historical ecology of western Maharashtra?

Understanding the historical ecology helps challenge misconceptions about landscapes like grasslands, showing they are ancient ecosystems and not necessarily signs of degradation.

Home / Science / Ancient Texts Reveal Maharashtra's True Savanna Past

Ancient Texts Reveal Maharashtra's True Savanna Past

8 Feb

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Summary

Marathi literature from the 13th to 20th centuries analyzed for ecological data.
Research confirms ancient savanna ecosystems, not degraded forests.
Landscape consistency over 750 years surprised ecologists.

Ancient Texts Reveal Maharashtra's True Savanna Past

Ecologists are now using traditional Marathi literature to reveal the ancient ecological history of western Maharashtra, challenging popular misconceptions. Researchers Ashish Nerlekar and Digvijay Patil analyzed nearly 750 years of Marathi texts, dating from the 13th to the 20th century. Their findings, published in People and Nature, suggest that the region's historical landscape was characterized by ancient tropical savannas rather than dense forests.

The study meticulously filtered texts, including sant biographies and folklore, focusing on those firmly rooted in specific locations within western Maharashtra. This rigorous approach excluded material that might reflect imagination or abstraction, prioritizing spatially explicit descriptions of landscapes and vegetation. Such texts confirmed the presence of open environments suited for pastoralism and hunting communities.