Toba eruption
Also called: Toba super-eruption · Topic: Prehistory: Human Origins and Stone Age Cultures · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Toba eruption was a huge volcanic explosion at Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia, c. 74,000 years ago. It was one of the largest eruptions in Earth's history. It threw out so much ash that a thick layer settled across South Asia, including India. Archaeologists use this ash layer as a time marker. Tools found below it are older than c. 74,000 years, and tools found above it are younger.
Example
At Jwalapuram in Andhra Pradesh, stone tools were found both below and above the Toba ash. This suggests that people lived in the area before the eruption and after it.
Don't confuse with
- Ice Age: the Ice Age was a long cold period that lasted until c. 12,000 years ago. The Toba eruption was a single event that happened c. 74,000 years ago.