ETHNOARCHAEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS OF PASTORALISM IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE WEST INDIAN HIMALAYAS, RESULTS FROM TRAVELS DURING YEAR 1999

During two trips to the Indian part of the Himalayasin the state of Himachal Pradesh in 1999, I had the opportunity to observe various archaeological manfestations of pastoral activities. In the area of the Indrahar Pass above the town of Dharamsala, the first observations were made. Short-term shelters along the road through the pass, which is used to move herds over the mountains, are complemented by stable stone buildings used by transhumant herders, as well as stable villages. On the way, in addition to the objects that provide the necessities of life (springs), we also find a shrine. The second site is the Chikka valley, near the village of Jagatsukh, near Manali. Here it has been possible to document whole groups of short-term shelters of different ages. Several short-term shelters are also associated with pastoral activities, and shrines can be found in one valley. Grazing activity could also be observed from vegetation symptoms. Field observations at both sites show a surprisingly large variability in traces of pastoral activity, some of which are archaeologically very inconspicuous and easily disappear in the long-term time horizon.