Late-Holocene paleoceanographic and climatic changes and their impact on Indian socio-economic conditions: Benthic foraminiferal evidence from the Bay of Bengal

Abstract

The present work is pursued on the benthic foraminiferal groups obtained from NGHP core samples of the western Bay of Bengal to understand the variations of paleoceanography and Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM), as well as socio-economic changes in ancient India. Benthic foraminiferal AMS 14C dating reveals that the studied interval spans between 335 BC and 1355 AD, covering the history of the last 1690 years. We compared foraminifera group counts with published isotopes, sunspot number, summer monsoon index, hematite-stained grain, Al/Ca, 14C data sets. Angular Asymmetrical Benthic Foraminifera, infaunal, and dysoxic groups exhibit declining trends with warm, humid intervals with intensified ISM signature from 335 BC to 406 AD (Roman Warm Period) and from 787 to 1202 AD (Medieval Warm Period). The Increasing trend of the above foraminiferal groups captures the signature of weak ISM from 406 to 787 AD (Dark Age Cold Period) and from 1202 to 1355 AD (Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age Transition). Whereas rounded symmetrical benthic foraminifera, epifaunal, and oxic groups show a reverse relation with the abovementioned groups. Spectral analysis of foraminiferal groups shows significant periodicities of 563/561, 450, 321, 281/250, 22/27, and 17/16/15 years, corresponding to various solar cycles. This research uncovers the relationship between solar activity and monsoonal changes, which influenced India’s economic growth and played a crucial role in the establishment and demise of successive dynasties throughout the Indian subcontinent during the late-Holocene.