Traditional Knowledge System amongst the Mallah and its Implication for Understanding Past Adaptation Pattern in Tamsa River Basin, Uttar Pradesh

Suraj Yadav and Shahida Ansari

Riverine landscapes sustain complex human adaptations shaped by long-term engagement with dynamic environments. A number of archaeological sites have been discovered along the Tamsa river. While their material culture has been studied to a respectable extent, knowledge of rivers and their adaptability has been a subject that can be studied through the knowledge systems of the simple-living communities living on the banks for millennia. This paper draws on ethnoarchaeological fieldwork conducted with the Mallah inhabiting Tamsa River basin in Mau District, Uttar Pradesh. The study examines how the Mallahs are closely aligned with the ecological settings of the Tamsa. The findings indicate that settlement locations are strategically positioned near stable crossing points and navigable channels, ensuring both accessibility and economic viability. The study further identifies that seasonal fluctuations in water levels directly influence mobility patterns, resource use, and adaptive responses to flood-prone conditions. The Mallahs’ lifeway depends on boating, fishing, and transportation, supported by a detailed understanding of river dynamics, including water flow, depth, and resource zones. The study argues that such intergenerational knowledge systems offer valuable insights into long-term man and river interactions and provide a framework for interpreting past settlement and land-use strategies in the Tamsa River Basin.