Cave paintings in India
Though tools from the Palaeolithic Age have been identified earlier in parts of the Aravallis, it is for the first time that cave paintings and rock art of a large magnitude have been found in Haryana.
The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India that spans several prehistoric periods.
[8][9] It exhibits the earliest traces of human life on the Indian subcontinent and evidence of Stone Age habitation starting at the site in Acheulian times.
Bhimbetka is a UNESCO world heritage site that consists of seven hills and over 750 rock shelters distributed over 10 kilometres (6.2 mi).
[9][14] Some of the Bhimbetka rock shelters feature prehistoric cave paintings of which the oldest date from 10,000 years BP, corresponding to the Indian Mesolithic.
Numerous geometric symbols, dots and lines are found along with animals, and human paintings and engravings dating from late Pleistocene onwards.
Painted figures have been found executed in monochrome, red and white or sometimes in combination with shades of yellow color.
[25] The rock shelter of Gudahandi is located on the summit of the hillock and situated about 20 km from Block headquarters Koksara in Kalahandi district.
[28][29][30] The rock painting of the Yogimatha (10th millennium BCE)[31] of Nuapada District of Odisha which was an older script in India.
[32][33] In Tamil Nadu, ancient Paleolithic cave paintings are found in Padiyendhal, Alampadi, Kombaikadu, Kilvalai, Settavarai and Nehanurpatti.
The paintings reflect different phases of Indian Culture from jain tirthankar mahaveer's birth to his nirvana[35] in the 8th century AD.
They depict themes of court life, feasting, processions, men and women at work, festivals, various natural scenes including animals, birds and flowers.
[36] The ceilings have depiction of a lotus tank with natural looking images of men, animals, flowers, birds and fishes representing the Samavasarana faith of Jainism.
Frescoes that have been preserved on the top parts of columns and ceilings inside the temple are mostly typical of the 9th century Pandyan period.
