A significant prehistoric rock art site, offering a window into the lives of early human communities, has been discovered in the dense forests of Telangana. The find was made by a dedicated research scholar from Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad.
Discovery in the Dense Forests
The newly identified site is located near Aksaraloddi, between Jagannadhapuram and Annapureddypalli in Mulkalkapalli Mandal. It lies approximately 2 kilometres from Nallamudi village in the Bhadradri Kothagudem district, close to Palwancha. The exploration that led to the discovery was conducted with the assistance of a knowledgeable local youth who helped navigate the challenging, wooded terrain.
Kondaveeti Gopi, the MANUU research scholar behind this find, stated that the art consists of vivid depictions painted in red ochre on natural rock surfaces. The paintings portray animals, human figures, and dynamic hunting scenes, forming a symbolic narrative from a bygone era.
Unlocking Messages from the Mesolithic Era
"These symbolic images are believed to have been created to convey beliefs, rituals or messages by early human communities to future generations," explained Gopi. Based on a preliminary analysis of the style and themes, the artworks are tentatively dated to the Mesolithic period, roughly between 10,000 and 5,000 BCE. They could also belong to an early Neolithic transitional phase.
Gopi highlighted that the use of natural red pigment and the predominant themes of hunting and animals are classic hallmarks of the Mesolithic hunter-gatherer culture that once thrived in the region. In a noteworthy addition, wood fossils were also identified in the same area, providing further clues about the region's rich ecological and prehistoric past.
A Veteran Scholar's Continuing Legacy
This discovery adds another chapter to the extensive work of Kondaveeti Gopi, a senior citizen and seasoned researcher. He has previously brought to light several megalithic and prehistoric sites in this part of Telangana. His earlier work includes the discovery of the Ontigundu Rock Art site, also near Nallamudi village, on which he submitted a research paper to the Rock Art Society of India (RASI).
In an official release, MANUU emphasized the importance of the find. It stated, "This new discovery not only adds another chapter to the prehistoric record of Southern India but also stands as a milestone in the exploration of Mesolithic cultural heritage in the Eastern Godavari Basin region." The site promises to become a crucial point of reference for archaeologists and historians studying the early human settlement and artistic expression in peninsular India.
