A bone figurine believed to represent a mother goddess, from the Upper Palaeolithic period, was found in which river valley?

A carved bone figurine, believed by some scholars to represent a "mother goddess", was found at Lohanda Nala in the Belan valley, in the Mirzapur-Prayagraj region of Uttar Pradesh.

About the figurine:

It was found during the excavations of the University of Allahabad, led by G. R. Sharma, in the 1970s.

It is made of animal bone, and is about 8.5 cm long.

It is dated to the Upper Palaeolithic period, roughly 20,000 to 25,000 years ago.

Some scholars identify it as a "mother goddess", because of its shape, though the identification is debated.

It is one of the earliest pieces of art found in India.

It is kept in the Kaushambi Museum of the University of Allahabad.

About the Belan valley:

• The Belan is a tributary of the Tons river, which joins the Ganga.
• The Belan valley, on the northern edge of the Vindhyan hills, is one of the few areas in India where all three phases of the Stone Age (Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic) are found in sequence.
• It is therefore very important for the study of Indian prehistory.

Important sites in the region:

• Chopani Mando: a Mesolithic site with early pottery.
• Several Neolithic sites with evidence of rice and cattle.

Art in prehistoric India:

• Upper Palaeolithic: engraved ostrich eggshell, bone figurine, and early rock paintings.
• Mesolithic: many rock paintings showing hunting and dancing scenes.
• Neolithic and later: rock paintings, pottery designs and figurines.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Narmada valley is known for early human fossils and tools.
• ✗The Son valley has Palaeolithic sites such as Baghor in Madhya Pradesh.
• ✗The Godavari valley has many prehistoric sites in the Deccan.