Neolithic rock art site found in Andhra Pradesh

A rock art painting site dating back to neolithic (New Stone Age) and megalithic (Iron Age) and up to the early historic period (from 4,500 BC to 2 AD) was discovered in Lankamala reserve forest at Ranibavi near Mydukur in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. V. Ramabrahmam who headed a YVU exploration team showing a rock art painting
discovered at Ranibavi in Kadapa district [Credit: The Hindu]

More than 100 rock art paintings with mystic figures belonging to human and wild animals in different postures depicted with white pigment were found on quartzite rocks in a rock shelter known as “Diviti Mallanna Banda” or “Mallugani Banda”, about nine kilometres from Ranibavi by V. Ramabrahmam, Assistant Professor of History and Archaeology in Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, who led an exploration team.

The YVU exploration team also comprised K. Raghu Babu, Assistant Professor of Geology, S.V. Sreenivasulu, research scholar in history and archaeology and was assisted by Rajesh, a native of Mydukur.

“The human figures in the rock art painting site included a man holding a trident, nandipadas, man riding a wolf holding trident with both hands, human figure with a mask, a warrior carrying a weapon riding a horse, another horse-borne warrior confronting an elephant with a weapon, a group of four men with two holding tridents, and men stretching their hands towards a woman,” Dr. Ramabrahmam said.

Another interesting rock art painting was that of an antelope and three hyenas ready to attack three wild donkeys. The figure of a tree with a honey comb and a magnified image of the honey comb near the tree indicated that honey was a major food supplement of rock art dwellers. The prehistoric man used saliva, animal fat and crushed bones as binding material that made the pigment last for thousands of years, he said.

“The rock art painting site was in the red sanders belt where shoot at sight orders were in force and frequented by wild animals and the exploration team could visit the site with the assistance of forest officials,” Dr. Ramabrahmam said.

He thanked Principal Chief Conservator of Forests A.V. Joseph, Conservators of Wildlife Circles Santipriya Pande and M. Ravi Kumar, Proddatur DFO Sivasankara Reddy and Assistant Beat Officer of Lankamala Wildlife Sanctuary Suvarna Kumar for their cooperation to the team. YVU Vice-Chancellor B. Syamasundar and in charge Registrar G. Sambasiva Reddy lauded the team for its discovery.

Source: The Hindu [December 01, 2014]