Bhimbetka is a place in Madhya Pradesh where the earliest known traces of human life in India were found. Stone age rock shelters and paintings dates back 9,000 years. The region is declared a World Heritage Site.

Location

‘Rock Shelters of Bhimbetaka’ lie 45 km south of Bhopal, and are located at the southern edge of the Vindhyachal hills. Towards south of these rock shelters are successive ranges of the Satpura hills. The entire area is covered by thick forests and vegetation. The area has abundant natural resources like perennial water supplies, natural shelters, rich forest flora and fauna and bear significant resemblance to similar rock art site like Kakadu National Park in Australia.

Discovery

As reported in UNESCO citation declaring Bhimbetaka as a World Heritage Site, Bhimbetka was first mentioned in Indian archeological records in 1888 as a Buddhist site – based on information gathered from local adivasis. Long thereafter, while V. S. Wakankar was traveling by train to Bhopal, he saw some rock formations of similar nature which he has seen in Spain and France. He visited the area along with a team of archaeologists and discovered several prehistoric rock shelters.

Since then, more than 700 such shelters have been identified, of which 243 are in Bhimbetka group and 178 in Lakha Juar group. Archeological studies revealed a continuous sequence of Stone Age cultures (from the late Acheulian to the late Mesolithic), as also the world’s oldest stone walls and floors. Earliest paintings on the cave walls are believed to be of Mesolithic period. Broad chronology of the finds has been done, but a detailed chronology is yet to be created.

Rock arts & paintings

Rock shelters and caves of Bhimbetka have several interesting paintings and depict in a very vivid way life of the people living in those caves and the natural environment around them. A rock, popularly called as “Zoo Rock” depicts pictures of elephants, sambhar, bisons and deer. Paintings on another rock show a peacock, a snake, a deer and the sun. On another rock, two elephants with tuskers are painted. Hunting scenes with hunters carrying bows, arrows, swords and shield also find their place in the comity of these pre-historic paintings. In one of the caves, a bison has been shown in pursuit of a hunter while his two companions stand helplessly nearby.

It is a marvel that the paintings have not faded even after thousands of years. It is believed that these paints were made of colored earth, vegetable dyes, roots and animal fat. Brushes were made of pieces of fibrous plants.

External links

UNESCO Bhimbetka