Several prehistoric paintings were discovered in a cave near the district of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand in January 2024. These paintings show that the cave in the Central Himalayan region was a haven for early men in the prehistoric era that protected them from harsh climate.
The prehistoric era refers to the time period before the invention of paper and books or any written script or language. So, there are no written records of the events of that period. Historians and archaeologists have found out about that era with the help of excavations. During excavations, numerous objects are taken out from under the surface of the earth, such as pottery, paintings, and habitats. All these objects reveal about the lifestyle, culture, occupations, etc., of the people of those times.
This era is divided into five periods, namely Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Iron Age. The Palaeolithic Age is further divided into three periods: Lower Palaeolithic, Middle Palaeolithic, and Upper Palaeolithic Age.
Rock Paintings at Pithoragarh
As per the regional officer of the state archaeology department, Chandra Singh Chauhan, around 10 rock paintings have been found in Berinag, a region 85 km away from the headquarters of Pithoragarh. Chauhan further said that there are three sections in the cave. These sections are decorated with a series of rock paintings, both of animals and humans. The height of some of these paintings is 2–3 feet, while their width is 2–2.5 inches.
Chandra Singh Chauhan also stated that these paintings bear a resemblance with the prehistoric paintings discovered in the year 1965 in the Lakhu Udiyar caves located close to Almora. Paintings in Almora feature the images of humans and animals along with tectiforms. It seems that fingers had been used to create them in red, white, and black. Besides, there are groups of dots and several geometric patterns. These paintings are vital evidence of the prehistoric art.
As per Manoj Saxena, the superintending archaeologist, Dehradun Circle, they have got the proof of prehistoric paintings in a rock shelter near Pithoragarh and are now examining these paintings. Archaeologists believe that in the Pithoragarh district, this rock shelter is the first one to have been discovered with prehistoric paintings. The rock shelter is much spacious, which signifies that large groups of early humans may have inhabited it. These cave paintings comprise as many as 11 figures of humans, including men and women. Just below these 11 human figures, a wild animal has been painted on the wall.
Discovery of the Paintings
Several young people, who visited the region for sightseeing, found cave paintings. They clicked their pictures and shared them with the archaeology department of the state. Having received the pictures of the artwork, the authorities visited it to collect more information and data regarding them. The first person to notice them was an amateur rock climber named Tarun Mahara. While climbing a rock, Tarun and other rock climbers spotted a structure in the form of a tunnel. The structure (or the cave) is located on a hill beside a PG College, Berinag. Being curious, they went inside it about 20 metres below the ground level and found the rock paintings covering its walls. The paintings are in different colours. These caves are an important historical site.
Inside the cave, a number of paintings were found around 12–15 feet above the ground level, while several other paintings were on rocks and cannot be easily seen. One can see them only via rappelling. Besides, there is a prehistoric artwork, i.e., a cup mark, around 20 feet up the hill.
Age of the Paintings
These rock paintings probably date back to 4,000–6,000 years. However, their exact age can be verified only through, carbon dating. The responsibility of determining the exact age of these painting has been given to the archaeological team of Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC).
Previously, several similar caves have also been discovered in the nearby regions, such as Almora, Nainital, and Garhwal. Almora has nine such caves; Nainital, one; and Garhwal, three. With these caves, it is evident that early humans had been living in the Himalayan region in the prehistoric times.
Earliest Paintings of the Prehistoric Era
The earliest known artwork produced by humans was in the form of drawings and paintings, which they used to decorate their humble cottages and maintain a record of events taking place during their lifetime.
Most of the art forms came up during the Upper Palaeolithic Age, including the first paintings in India. However, no artworks were developed during the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Ages as per the evidence collected so far.
Sites of the Earliest Rock Paintings
The earliest rock paintings were discovered by an archaeologist, Archibald Campbell Carlleyle, at Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, India, during 1867–68. The other regions where rock paintings have been discovered in India are Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kumaon Hills of Uttarakhand as well as other regions in Uttar Pradesh. These rock paintings were discovered by well-known archaeologists such as Carlleyle, Anderson, Cockburn, Ghosh, and Mitra. They excavated several sites which contained these paintings.
Depiction of Figures in the Paintings
These paintings consisted of human figures in the form of sticks, creatures having long snouts, foxes, strange-looking lizards along with geometrical patterns. Different colours such as black, white, and red ochre have been used to create these artworks. In some paintings, human figures are seen in various dance poses, particularly the poses wherein their hands are connected with each other. Besides, superimposed paintings having red ochre, white, and black layers were found. The earliest group of superimposed paintings is in black, than in red ochre, and the last group of paintings in white.
Apart from these, in Kashmir, engraved slabs were found, while in Karnataka, granite rocks were discovered. In Andhra Pradesh, different types of paintings were discovered. These were in red ochre, or white, or a colour made by mixing them. They act as substantial evidence for the art forms prevalent in the prehistoric era.
Besides, the paintings discovered in Kupgallu (Telangana), Piklihal, and Tekkalkota (both in Karnataka) were mainly in red ochre and white. These paintings featured elephants, sambhars, sheep, bulls, gazelles, horses, goats, humans, and tridents.
Paintings were also discovered in 500 rock shelters located at Bhimbetka in the Vindhya Ranges (Madhya Pradesh). These paintings depicted pictures of honey collection, dancing, music, animal fighting, hunting, household scenes, decoration of bodies, etc.
Conclusion
The prehistoric artwork found in these caves must be brought to the notice of the concerned authorities as soon as possible so that these can be preserved and protected from being damaged by inadvertent visitors and natural causes.
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