Comprehensive Study Notes on Prehistoric Rock Paintings and Art of Indus Valley
Introduction to Prehistoric Rock Paintings
Definition of 'Prehistoric': The term 'prehistoric' characterizes the epoch of human history that predates the discovery of paper and the development of the written word.
Genesis of Artistic Expression: Human beings felt a proto-instinctual desire to communicate and express themselves, leading them to use the walls of their living quarters as canvases. They painted and scribbled on these surfaces, creating what are now formally recognized as prehistoric rock paintings.
Historical Significance: These paintings have survived the "test of time," allowing modern historians to decipher information regarding the lifestyle, tool usage, pottery, and social structures of early humans.
Environmental Context (Ancient Era): Approximately years ago, the Earth was characterized by thick, dense jungles. Human ancestors resided in natural shelters such as caves, valleys, and areas proximal to streams, rivers, and pools.
Dietary Habits: Early humans subsisted on a diet of various grasses, fruits, and vegetables, supplemented by the hunting of wild beasts.
Psychological and Ritualistic Origins of Art
Primary Needs: Prehistoric man was primarily concerned with the fulfillment of daily necessities: food, clothing, and protection from threats including large animals, extreme heat, heavy rain, and other natural disasters.
Vulnerability and Magic: Feeling inherently weak against the forces of nature and the ferocity of big beasts, early humans turned to magic rituals. They believed that by creating art, they could obtain the strength required for hunting and appease the supreme natural powers.
The Ritual Process: To gain strength or favor, men would create drawings on cave walls using primitive materials such as wood, stone, and mud. These artistic acts were often accompanied by prayers before the hunter departed for the jungle.
Psyche and Holy Purpose: This behavior highlights the human psyche's early inclination toward pleasing a "supreme controlling power," marking the genesis of art created for holy or ritualistic purposes.
Archaeological Timeline and Evolution of Rock Art
The Upper Paleolithic - Aurignacian Period (): This period marks the production of the first recognized works of human art.
Initial Techniques: The earliest images were simple and rudimentary, consisting of a series of random lines or grooves created by dragging fingers across surfaces.
Emergence of Engraving: Later, humans began engraving the soft clay layers of cave walls using specialized tools.
Standard Subject Matter: Early art focused on simplified human figures, representations of daily activities, geometric forms, and symbolic imagery.
Categorization of Rock Art Periods
The Seven Broad Periods: Rock art history is systematically divided into seven distinct phases:
Period I (Upper Paleolithic): Characterized by large-scale line drawings of massive animals, including bison, tigers, and rhinoceroses. These were typically rendered in green and dark red. While some were executed as a "wash," most were filled with complex geometric patterns.
Period II (Mesolithic): This period accounts for the largest volume of prehistoric paintings found. The figures are comparatively smaller and highly stylized, featuring linear decorations on the bodies. Dominant themes include animals, human figures, and hunting scenes. This era also shows the first evidence of an affinity for animals, suggesting the dawn of domestication and conservation.
Period III (Chalcolithic / Copper Age): The art reflects the technology of the time. Themes include cross-hatched squares and grids. For the first time, pottery and metal tools are depicted in the rock paintings and ceramics.
Periods IV & V (Early Historic): The style became more schematic and decorative. Colors used shifted toward a palette of red, white, and yellow. Subject matter expanded to include religious symbols, figures of yakshas, tree gods, and "magical sky chariots" with riders wearing tunic-like garments.
Periods VI & VII (Medieval): These paintings are characterized by geometric, linear, and schematic designs. However, they are noted for being rougher in their artistic execution compared to earlier eras.
History of Discovery in India
The First Discovery: The first cave paintings in the world were discovered in India in by the archaeologist Archibald Carlleyle. Notably, this discovery occurred twelve years before the famous discovery at Altamira in Spain.
Collaborative Excavations: Following the initial find, a large number of sites were unearthed through the joint efforts of Indian and international archaeologists.
Key Archaeological Sites in India:
Madhya Pradesh: Hoshangabad, Panchmarhi, and Bhimbethaka.
Uttar Pradesh: Mirzapur.
Bihar: Sites located under the Kaimur range.
Chhattisgarh: Raigarh.
Andhra Pradesh: Various unnamed districts.
Karnataka: Raichur.
Uttarakhand: Kumaon hills.
Bhimbethaka: The Natural Art Gallery
Discovery: The caves were discovered in by Dr. Vishnu Wakankar.
Nature of the Site: Described as a "natural art gallery" and an "archaeological treasure," the site traces the history of man starting from approximately years ago.
Location and Scale: Situated close to Bhopal on the way to Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh. The site spans an area of .
Complexity: The area contains approximately rock shelters, or which contain paintings. Some paintings are located on high-altitude ceilings of rock shelters.
Preservation: The dense forest and thick vegetation surrounding the caves acted as a natural shield, protecting the artwork from natural calamities and weathering.
Materials and Painting Techniques
Pigment Production: Paints were created by grinding rocks and various minerals into powder.
Red: Sourced from haematite (commonly known as 'geru' in India).
Green: Sourced from a green variety of stone known as chalcedony.
White: Likely derived from limestone.
Black: Sourced from wooden charcoal or manganese.
Binding Agents: To create a liquid paint, the mineral powder was mixed with water and a sticky/viscous substance such as animal fat, gum, resin from trees, or leaf extracts.
Tools: Brushes were constructed from plant fibers.
Longevity: These paints have survived for thousands of years despite exposure to adverse weather conditions.
Case Study: Wizard's Dance
Medium: Mineral colour on stone.
Period: Circa (Stone Age). Note: The CBSE syllabus dates this between .
Location: Bhimbethaka Cave, located south of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Collections: National Museum, New Delhi; Centre of Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), New Delhi.
Subject Matter/Theme: A ceremonial or ritualistic dance performed by "wizard-like" cave men, intended to represent a joyful celebration or a ritual to appease a god.
Description and Style:
This is considered one of the earliest examples of music, dance, theatre, and the use of masks.
One figure stands in a joyful posture with arms outstretched.
Two middle figures (one seated, one standing) are depicted wearing masks on their faces and horns on their heads.
The figures are rendered with thick black outlines with no internal color filling.
The style is elongated and stick-like, with curves that suggest physical movement and high spirits.
The ritual depicted may represent prayer, magical healing, or the pleasing of a powerful jungle god.
The painting draws a parallel to modern tribal dances involving body paint.
Critical Technological Milestones
Fire: Believed to have been discovered during the Lower Paleolithic era, significantly before the evidence of cave painting began.
The Wheel: Invented circa .
The Terracotta Revolution: The combined discovery of fire (for baking) and the wheel (for shaping) was instrumental in the creation of pottery and terracotta sculptures.