The archaeological arena in India has hit the headlines recently with a significant discovery. A former Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) archaeologist has unearthed a Mesolithic rock painting in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. The artwork portrays a person tilling land, providing us with invaluable insights into life during the Mesolithic era. This crucial find was made during a survey of the lower River Krishna Valley, to determine the architectural features of area shrines.
Previous Discoveries and Findings
This is not the first significant find in the region. In 2018, archaeologists revealed prehistoric rock art dating from the Neolothic era, around 1500-2000 BC. These artworks were discovered on natural limestone formations near Dachepalli in the same Guntur district.
Natural Rock Shelters and Artwork
The recent rock paintings were discovered within naturally formed caves situated on an Orvakallu hillock. These caves provided shelter to prehistoric humans, and now give us a window into their lives. Among the five caves explored, two contained distinguished depictions of rock paintings, demonstrating the artistic capabilities of people living in the Mesolithic Age.
Artistic Materials and Style
The materials used for these rock paintings were natural white kaolin and red ochre pigments. Ochre is a pigment comprising clay, sand, and ferric oxide, while Kaolinite is a soft, usually white mineral, created through the chemical weathering of aluminium silicate minerals like feldspar. While many of these artworks have sustained damage over time due to exposure to air and wind, the outlines and sketches still remain, allowing modern analysis of their content.
Scenes Depicted in the Artwork
The rock paintings illustrate various aspects of daily life for these prehistoric communities. One such illustration shows a man catching a wild goat using a hook-like implement. Another painting demonstrates two couples with raised hands, followed by a child, possibly signifying communal activities or rituals.
Evidence of Early Agricultural Practices
A particularly notable painting displays a man holding a plough and appearing to till the land. This artwork implies a semi-settled lifestyle where people domesticated animals and cultivated crops, providing evidence of early agricultural practices.
Stone Ages in India
Our understanding of the stone ages in India is built on such archaeological discoveries. The Palaeolithic (Old Stone) Age was predominantly a hunting and food gathering culture, whereas the Mesolithic (Middle Stone) Age marked a shift towards domestication of animals. The Neolithic (New Stone) Age saw the development of food production, pottery, and crafts.
Megalithic Culture and Spatial Distribution
Megaliths, large stone structures often used as burial or commemorative sites, also form a significant part of India’s archaeological heritage. Although most megaliths discovered in India trace back to the Iron Age (1500 BC to 500 BC), some precede it, dating back as far as 2000 BC. These monumental structures are mainly found in peninsular India, specifically in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
The ongoing revelation of India’s rich archaeological history through these exciting discoveries continuously expands our understanding of human civilization and evolution.