Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

Pre-historic rock art under threat

- Photo: U. Subramanyam

INVALUABLE: Pre-historic rock paintings at Ketavaram near Kurnool.

KURNOOL: A multi-disciplinary team of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts expressed shock over pulverising of rocks into sand at the pre-historic rock paintings site at Ketavaram in Kurnool district.

Headed by National Coordinator Bansilal Malla of the Centre and State Coordinator N. Chandramouli and experts from six disciplines, the team spent two days examining the rock art for documentation under the “Adi Drishya” (Early Vision) project.

The team, comprising archaeologist, folklore expert, botanist, geologist, historian and anthropologist drawn from different universities, considered Ketavaram as an important rock art site in the country. Though classified as an endangered site, no steps were taken to protect and preserve the place. Preserving the site for its next visit was more important than making a study of the art, it observed.

The State government which had no idea of the importance of the place allowed quarrying there while the Archaeological Survey of India had never tried to take up the issue with the government, barring planting a few sign boards.

Over a hundred figures drawn on the basalt rocks using iron oxide by prehistoric man during Mesolithic period to megalithic period (6000 BC to 200 AD) are found at Ketavaram, Kannamadakala and Puricharla. The paintings depicted the lifestyle of prehistoric man. Some of them were contemporary to Indus Valley Civilisation while others were even earlier than Indus period. The “eternal knot” Indus Valley art, a pattern which has no beginning or end, is found at Ketavaram.

Dr. Chandramouli, Reader in Archaeology at Pondicherry University, has said the paintings showcase human history for over 6,000 years. Apart from the rock paintings, evidences of human settlements were found. Dr. Chandramouli who started his research at the site 20 years ago collected over 3,000 rock tools.

The subject matter of paintings revolves around animals like deer, stag, antelope, hyena, rabbit, reptiles and frog. Figures of tribal chief leading a dance after every good hunt are frequently found. The birth of early belief system is depicted through the figure of a sorcerer who is believed to have performed certain rituals before hunting.

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