ROCK SHELTERS OF BHIMBETKA
Overwhelming with surprises from every corner, designed in the year 2003 as a world Heritage Site, the Bhimbetka Rock Sheltres (or “ Bhim Baithak meaning ‘where Bhim sat down’) are located in the Raisen District in the state of Madhya Pradesh, 45 km. South of Bhopal at the southern edge of the Vindhyachal hills, compose an architectural site. The successive ranges of the Satpura hills, to the south of these shelters. The entire areas has thick vegetation, abundal natural resources in the perennial water supplies, natural shelters, rich forest flora and fauna. Bears a striking resemblsnce to similar rock art sites such as Kakadu National Park in Australla, the cave paintings of the Bushmen in Kalahari Desert, and the Upper Paleolithic Lascaux cave paintings in France.
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters showcase the earliest traces of human life in India. The walls of these caves are literlly the unspoken story of our ancestors who once walked on this land. Its Stone Age rock paintings are approximately 9,000 years old.
The name Bhimbetka is derived from the mythological association of the place with Bhima, one of the pandavas, the five sons of king Pandu and the queens Kunti and Madri in the Hindu epic Mahabharatha.
The UNSCO citation declaring the Rock Shelter of nBhimbatka as as world Heritage Site statea that Bhimbetka was first mentioned in Indian archeological records in 1888 as a Buddhist site, based on information gathered from the local advises. Dr. V.S.Wakankar the famous Indian archaeologist, once traveling by train to Bhopal, saw some rock formations resembling those he had seen in Spain and France. He visited the area with a team of archaeologists and discovered many pre-historic rock shelters in 1957. The entire area covered by these caves was excavated over a period of 16 years.
Since then more 700sucshelters have been identified out of which 243 are in the Bhimbetka group and 178 in the Lakha Juar group. Only 12 caves are open to tourists at the movement.
Archeological studies revealed a continues sequence of Stone Age cultures from the late Acheulian to the Mesolithic, as well as the world’s oldest stone walls and floors. The earliest paintings on the cave walls are believed to belong to the Mesolithic period, A broad chronology of the finda has been done, but a detailed chronology is yet to be created.
Over a passage of time, the caves have evolved into excellent rock-shelters which are ideal sites for aboriginal settlements. Sometimes believe that the smooth shape of the rocks was on account of the area once being under a water. The rocks have assumed incredible shapes in various stunning hues and textures. Apart from the central place the aboriginal drawings have in human history, the caves themselves make an interesting study of the earth’s history.
Several intriguing paintings in the rock shelters and caves of Bhimbetka showcase the lives and times of the people who resided in the caves. Scenes of childbirth, communal dancing and drinking, religious rites and burials, as also the natural environment are the various themes depicted.
Painted mainly in red white, with green and yellow occasional used, themes taken from everyday events of ages ago, the scenes generally depict rides, animal fighting, honey collection, decoration of bodies, disguises, masking and household scenes, Animals such as bison, tigers, lions, wild boars, elephants antelopes, dogs, lizards, antelopes, etc. have been abundantly illustrated. Some caves depict popular religious and ritual symbols also.
The superimposition of paintings proves that the same canvas was used by different people at different times. The drawings and paintings could be classified under seven different periods;
PEROID1- (Upper Paleolithic) Linear representations in green and dark red, figures of huge animals such as bisons, tiger and rhinoceroses,
PETOID 2- (Mesolithic) Comparatively small in size, the stylized figures in this group give pictures of linear representations on the body.
Besides animals, here are human figures and hunting scenes, giving an idea of weapons such as barbed appears, pointed sticks, bows and arrows. The depiction of communal dances. Birds. Musical instruments, mother and child, pregnant women, men carrying dead animals, drinking and burials appear in rhythmic movement.
PEROID 3- (Chalcolithic)aaa; Similar to the painting of the Chalcolithic, these drawing portray that during the period, cave dwellers of this area were in contact with the agricultural communities of the Malwa plains and exchanged goods with them.
PEROID 4&5- (Early historic): Figures of this group take on a schematic and decorative style and are painted mainly in red, white and yellow, Riders, depiction periods from the main themes . Religious beliefs are represented by figures of yaks has, tree gods and magical sky chariots.
PEROIDS 6&7- (Medieval): These paintings through geometric linear and more schematic, reveal degenerations and crudeness in their artistic style. The colours used by the cave dwellers were made by combining manganese hematite, soft red stone and wooden coal. At times, animal fat and extracts of leaves were also used in the mixture. The colours have remained intact for many centuries due to the chemical reaction resulting from the oxide present on the surface of the rocks.
The popular “Zoo Rock” depicts animals such as elephants, sambars, bisons and dear. Paintings on one rock show a peacock. A deer and the sun. Two elephants with tusks are painted on another rock. Hunting scenes with hunters carrying bows, arrows, swords and shields also find their place in the community of these pre-historic paintings. In one of the caves, a bison is shown in pursuit of a hunter while his two companions appear to stand helplessly nearby. In another some horsemen are seen with along with anchors.
Marvelous it is note that the paintings have not faded even after thousands of years. It is believed that the paintings were made of coloured earth, vegetable days, roots and animals fat. Pieces of fibrous plant were used as brushes. The colours have been remarkable well preserved because of the natural red and white pigments used by the artists. The oldest paintings are believed to be 12,000 years old while some of the geometric figures data to the medieval period.
