Map showing prehistoric sites

Map showing prehistoric sites

The chapter begins with an outline map of India that highlights the major prehistoric sites where evidence of early human habitation and rock paintings have been discovered. These sites are scattered across various regions of India, indicating the widespread presence of prehistoric human activity. The map is not drawn to scale but serves as a visual guide to locate important archaeological and rock art sites. These sites include locations in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Kashmir. The map helps students understand the geographical distribution of prehistoric art and human settlements in India, providing a spatial context for the study of prehistoric rock paintings and artifacts. This visual representation is crucial for appreciating the diversity and richness of prehistoric culture across different ecological zones in India.

• Outline map shows major prehistoric sites across India.
• Sites include Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Kashmir.
• Map is not to scale but indicates location of rock paintings and early human habitation.
• Highlights the geographical spread of prehistoric human activity in India.
• 📌 Prehistoric sites: Locations where evidence of early human life and art has been found.
• 📌 Rock paintings: Artistic expressions created on rock surfaces by prehistoric humans.

AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ART

The discovery of prehistoric rock paintings in India was a landmark event in the study of ancient art. The first such discovery was made by archaeologist Archibold Carlleyle in 1867–68, predating the famous Altamira discovery in Spain by twelve years. Following Carlleyle, archaeologists like Cockburn, Anderson, Mitra, and Ghosh identified numerous prehistoric sites across the Indian subcontinent. These rock paintings have been found in caves and rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, and Uttarakhand. For example, the Lakhudiyar rock shelters in Uttarakhand, literally meaning 'one lakh caves,' contain paintings categorized into three groups: human figures, animals, and geometric patterns in white, black, and red ochre. The human figures are typically stick-like, while animals such as foxes and lizards are also depicted. The paintings show superimposition, with the earliest in black, followed by red ochre, and finally white. In Kashmir, engraved slabs have been found, while the granite rocks of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh provided canvases for Neolithic paintings. Sites like Kupgallu, Piklihal, and Tekkalkota feature paintings in white, red ochre over white, and pure red ochre, depicting bulls, elephants, horses, stylized humans, and tridents, among others. These findings highlight the diversity and richness of prehistoric Indian art across different regions and periods.

• First Indian rock painting discovery by Archibold Carlleyle in 1867–68.
• Subsequent discoveries by Cockburn, Anderson, Mitra, and Ghosh.
• Paintings found in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.
• Lakhudiyar shelters in Uttarakhand show human, animal, and geometric paintings.
• Paintings show superimposition: black, red ochre, and white layers.
• Neolithic paintings in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh depict animals and stylized humans.
• 📌 Rock shelters: Natural caves or overhangs used by prehistoric humans for habitation and art.
• 📌 Ochre: Natural earth pigment ranging in color from yellow to deep orange or brown.
• 📌 Neolithic period: Later part of the Stone Age marked by the development of agriculture and settled life.