This chapter elaborates the data and results of the explorations conducted in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest. The area has been intensively surveyed for the location of potential archaeological sites and the collection of ethnographic data in order to draw direct historical analogies. An ‘area-approach’ study has been conducted in order to formulate a general model for archaeological site structure, locations, geomorphic situations, and site formation processes that can be used for archaeological study in the hilly landscape of Northeast India. Present-day agricultural implements have been analysed and compared with Neolithic implements in order to reconstruct ancient farming culture by way of undertaking systematic study of modern peasant ways of life in the study area. The ideological significance of stone artefacts as ‘thunderstone’ in Northeast India and among the Karbis has also been discussed.
The lives of Asiatic Elephants in the Patharia Hills Reserve Forest of Barak Valley, Assam are at risk. Due to serious anthropogenic pressures, human-elephant interactions have increased tremendously during recent decades. It is time conservation of the species is initiated along the Indo-Bangladesh trans-boundary line, especially their habitats and migratory corridor which can help the conservation of elephants and other species as well.
Peliosanthes macrophylla var. assamensis, a new variety from Behali Reserve Forest in Assam, Northeast India, is described with accompanying photos and relevant taxonomic data. It differs from var. macrophylla from Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, Northeast India,
mainly by the staminal corona internally protruding near the middle (vs internally upright corona without a particular inward protrusion), shorter anthers somewhat divergent distally (vs nearly upright anthers), and longer, papillulate pistils exceeding the anthers (vs glabrous pistils not
exceeding the anthers).
Northeast Indian amphibian systematics and taxonomy is receiving increasing interest from herpetologists in recent years as remote, previously unexplored areas become more accessible for surveying. Even locations nearby cosmopolitan cities have the potential to produce taxonomic novelties. Herein we describe a new species of Megophrys from the foot-hills of the East Khasi Hills, northern Meghalaya, and adjacent forest in Garbhanga Reserve Forest, and Mayeng Hill Reserve Forest nearby the city of Guwahati, southern Assam. Megophrys megacephala sp. nov. is here compared with all Asian mainland congeners. This species altitudinal distribution is the lowest of all known Megophrys described from India and surrounding countries. A brief discussion is provided regarding some of the current difficulties faced by taxonomists working on the genus and several major problems in recent descriptions of congeners from Northeast India.
Importance of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in rural livelihood: A study in Patharia Hills Reserve Forest, northeast India