Cave Science: Insights from the Indian Subcontinent

Book excerpt: “Meghalayan Age”: Scientists added a new chapter in Earth’s history and we are in it. It is one of the most notable achievements identified from a stalagmite (rock structure) from Mawmluh Cave, Meghalaya, which captured the abrupt climate-event at ~ 4200 years ago. Some caves identified from Meghalaya have already been in top chart positions on World’s cave Map. Besides it, various other findings that emerged from the Indian caves are globally recognized. Notwithstanding these advances, cave science is not yet in the mainstream of our education system. This book is an attempt to accommodate all such notable findings which came out from the Indian caves and are internationally recognized. The book includes the 8 chapters which are on- Indian Caves, Paleoclimatology, Biospeleology, Chiroptelology, Geomicrobiology, Hydrogeology, Paleoanthropology and Cave Conservancy. This comprehensive reference book will not only enlighten the path for studying Cave Science but also serve as a proper key to open various doors of Cave Research and their protection in India in a proper way.