04-25-2009, 04:25 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ancient pre-writing on rocks found in remote TN hamlet
23 Mar 2009, 0157 hrs IST, Jaya Menon, TNN
CHENNAI: A chance visit to a remote Pudukkottai hamlet to assess the
damage caused by illegal granite quarrying on an ancient protected'
archaeological site helped an Archaeological Survey of India team
uncover what could be evidence of the first artistic expression of
prehistoric man in this region.
The cup marks' or cupules, the oldest surviving rock art, similar to
those showcased in the UNESCO world heritage sites of Bhimbetka in
Madhya Pradesh, were found in a cave in a hillock in the remote
Malayadipatti village, 35 km north of Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu.
"We found rock paintings and stone beds used by Jain preachers in
three caves. But our greatest discovery was the cup marks, known as
petroglyphs. Besides pounding on lime and iron haematite to get
materials to paint on rock, early man used stone tools to carve out
symbols on cave surfaces. We believe what we have found in the
Malayadipatti cave is the earliest artistic and creative expression of
man. And, this is the first time this is being discovered in Tamil
Nadu," said Ramesh Mulimani, deputy superintending archaeologist, ASI,
Chennai circle, who led a group to the caves in Pudukkottai.
Archaeological experts believe that these marks could date back to the
Mesolithic culture, which ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 years ago. "But,
we have to undertake a precise, scientific dating through C14 (carbon
labelling) and OSL (obsidian silicon)," said Mulimani. The 400-odd cup
marks etched in a natural cave in Pudukkottai and tucked away on the
roof surface has been protected from changes over the past several
millennia. "They could be religious or other symbolic depictions of
that period," he said. The cup marks have a smooth finish and are a
few millimetres deep and wide.
The team found three natural caves. One cave had a five-line
inscription in ancient Brahmi script. It carried the name of an
individual, Picham-piran' ( piran' meaning chief or head and so
believed to be a chieftain). Two caves had a Jain stone bed in each
and one had a fading rock painting on the cave wall and the other the
cup marks. Known locally as samanar (Jain) padukkai (beds),' these
beds were used by Jain preachers during the 3rd to 4th centuries AD.
The rock painting, created probably using lime powder mixed with
water, is a fading white line drawing depicting a bird and a human
form.
But the cup marks, spread over 100 square feet area of the cave roof,
has proved to be the most significant discovery for ASI in these
parts. "Further investigations need to be undertaken to ascertain the
exact nature of the marks and establish its archaeological
importance," Sathyabhama Bhadreenath, superintending archaeologist,
ASI, Chennai circle, told The Times of India.
The excited ASI team is now trying to get an endorsement from rock art
specialists, including Robert Bednarik, the Australian expert, to
confirm their findings. Bednarik, president of the International
Federation of Rock Art Organisations (IFRAO), has been coordinating
with the Rock Art Society of India (RASI) to attempt scientific dating
of Indian rock art.
Dr. Giriraj Kumar, professor in Indian culture and rock art science,
Dayalbagh Education Institute, Agra, who documented the 500 cup marks
found in a cave in the Daraki Chattan region in Mandsaur district in
Madhya Pradesh, pointed out that while the Chambal markings were in
quartzite, the Pudukkottai cupules were on granite. "They give an
insight into cognitive development of early humans and their cultural
development," he pointed out.
"After Bhimbetka and Dhariki Chattan (Madhya Pradesh) and Hunsgi in
Karnataka, the Pudukkottai cupules is an exciting find. We can confirm
they are petroglyphs by stylistic comparison with our earlier
findings," said Dr Adiga Sundara, a Mysore-based retired professor in
ancient Indian history and epigraphy.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/...how/4302250.cms <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
23 Mar 2009, 0157 hrs IST, Jaya Menon, TNN
CHENNAI: A chance visit to a remote Pudukkottai hamlet to assess the
damage caused by illegal granite quarrying on an ancient protected'
archaeological site helped an Archaeological Survey of India team
uncover what could be evidence of the first artistic expression of
prehistoric man in this region.
The cup marks' or cupules, the oldest surviving rock art, similar to
those showcased in the UNESCO world heritage sites of Bhimbetka in
Madhya Pradesh, were found in a cave in a hillock in the remote
Malayadipatti village, 35 km north of Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu.
"We found rock paintings and stone beds used by Jain preachers in
three caves. But our greatest discovery was the cup marks, known as
petroglyphs. Besides pounding on lime and iron haematite to get
materials to paint on rock, early man used stone tools to carve out
symbols on cave surfaces. We believe what we have found in the
Malayadipatti cave is the earliest artistic and creative expression of
man. And, this is the first time this is being discovered in Tamil
Nadu," said Ramesh Mulimani, deputy superintending archaeologist, ASI,
Chennai circle, who led a group to the caves in Pudukkottai.
Archaeological experts believe that these marks could date back to the
Mesolithic culture, which ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 years ago. "But,
we have to undertake a precise, scientific dating through C14 (carbon
labelling) and OSL (obsidian silicon)," said Mulimani. The 400-odd cup
marks etched in a natural cave in Pudukkottai and tucked away on the
roof surface has been protected from changes over the past several
millennia. "They could be religious or other symbolic depictions of
that period," he said. The cup marks have a smooth finish and are a
few millimetres deep and wide.
The team found three natural caves. One cave had a five-line
inscription in ancient Brahmi script. It carried the name of an
individual, Picham-piran' ( piran' meaning chief or head and so
believed to be a chieftain). Two caves had a Jain stone bed in each
and one had a fading rock painting on the cave wall and the other the
cup marks. Known locally as samanar (Jain) padukkai (beds),' these
beds were used by Jain preachers during the 3rd to 4th centuries AD.
The rock painting, created probably using lime powder mixed with
water, is a fading white line drawing depicting a bird and a human
form.
But the cup marks, spread over 100 square feet area of the cave roof,
has proved to be the most significant discovery for ASI in these
parts. "Further investigations need to be undertaken to ascertain the
exact nature of the marks and establish its archaeological
importance," Sathyabhama Bhadreenath, superintending archaeologist,
ASI, Chennai circle, told The Times of India.
The excited ASI team is now trying to get an endorsement from rock art
specialists, including Robert Bednarik, the Australian expert, to
confirm their findings. Bednarik, president of the International
Federation of Rock Art Organisations (IFRAO), has been coordinating
with the Rock Art Society of India (RASI) to attempt scientific dating
of Indian rock art.
Dr. Giriraj Kumar, professor in Indian culture and rock art science,
Dayalbagh Education Institute, Agra, who documented the 500 cup marks
found in a cave in the Daraki Chattan region in Mandsaur district in
Madhya Pradesh, pointed out that while the Chambal markings were in
quartzite, the Pudukkottai cupules were on granite. "They give an
insight into cognitive development of early humans and their cultural
development," he pointed out.
"After Bhimbetka and Dhariki Chattan (Madhya Pradesh) and Hunsgi in
Karnataka, the Pudukkottai cupules is an exciting find. We can confirm
they are petroglyphs by stylistic comparison with our earlier
findings," said Dr Adiga Sundara, a Mysore-based retired professor in
ancient Indian history and epigraphy.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/...how/4302250.cms <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->