Gudiyam Caves, Archaeological cave system in Thiruvallur District, India.
Gudiyam Caves is a rock shelter system with sixteen distinct chambers spread across the Allikulli Hill ranges near the Poondi reservoir in Tamil Nadu. The shelters nestle within natural stone formations that once protected early human communities from the elements.
The caves contain evidence of human habitation spanning between 1,000,000 and 12,000 years ago, marking them as significant for understanding early human settlement in South Asia. This extended timeline shows how people continuously occupied this region through different prehistoric periods.
The caves served as shelter for early hunter-gatherers who left behind their daily tools and remains of daily life. The stone artifacts found here tell the story of how people adapted to this landscape over many centuries.
Reaching these caves involves a trek of several kilometers from Gudiyam village, so plan to bring plenty of water and food for the walk. Sturdy footwear and sun protection are helpful for managing the rocky terrain and warm climate along the route.
The caves contain evidence that early human ancestors migrated across this landscape around 200,000 years ago, showing how far-ranging their movements were. These migration patterns suggest that prehistoric populations actively traveled and dispersed over substantial territories across the region.
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