Episodic habitation and abandonment of Neolithic civilization sites in the Vaigai River Basin, Southern India

•Six habitation-flooding timelines are recognized from the Vaigai River Basin.•Continuum of multiple stages of civilization since microlithic-recent times.•Origin and demise of habitation sites controlled by climatic and fluvial dynamics.•Coexistences of multiple groups that practiced varied cultural customs.•Preexistent practice of burning-burial of deceased than many other civilizations.