A new genetic study in Science has analyzed the skeletal remains of individuals from the 'Savalda Culture' in the Tapti Valley of Maharashtra, dating back to approximately 2500 BCE. The research identifies the earliest known genetic markers for resistance to humid-subtropical parasitic pathogens in the Indian subcontinent, highlighting a significant evolutionary adaptation among early farming communities.
The study provides a detailed map of how these early settlers adapted to the specific ecological challenges of the riverine plains, including a unique variant of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene associated with protection against endemic fevers. These findings underscore the deep biological history of human settlement in the Deccan Plateau and its link to the development of early agricultural societies.