kefa101

Page 1: Map of Prehistoric Sites

• Geographic Context

  • Depicts areas with engravings and paintings in the Indian subcontinent.

  • Major landmarks include:

    • Indus River

    • Cities: Srinagar, Kargil, Chandigarh, Delhi, Almora, and others.

    • Notable locations include Bhimbetka and Lakhudiyar.

  • Borders with Nepal, China, and Sri Lanka.

Page 2: Introduction to Prehistoric Rock Paintings

• Definition of Prehistory

  • Era before written records (no books or language).

  • Understanding human life based on archaeological finds.

• Discoveries of Prehistoric Life

  • Excavations revealed:

    • Old tools, pottery, and habitats

    • Bones of ancient humans/animals

    • Drawings on cave walls.

• Artistic Expression

  • Basic needs: Food, water, clothing, shelter led to self-expression via art.

  • Used cave walls as canvases.

• Timeline

  • Old Stone Age, known as the Palaeolithic Age.

  • Growing artistic activities noted in Upper Palaeolithic times:

    • Drawings of animals, human figures, and patterns.

  • India's earliest paintings traceable to Upper Palaeolithic times.

Page 3: Historical Context of Indian Art

• Initial Discoveries

  • Rock paintings first discovered in India by Archibold Carlleyle (1867-68).

  • Other archaeologists involved include Cockburn, Anderson, Mitra, Ghosh.

• Geographical Spread

  • Found in districts: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar.

  • Notable site: Lakhudiyar in Uttarakhand.

• Categorization of Paintings

  • Three categories: man, animal, geometric.

  • Stick-like human representations, animal motifs, geometric patterns.

  • Superimposition of various colors (black, red ochre, white).

Page 4: Prehistoric Rock Paintings

• Cultural Significance of Paintings

  • Locations like Vindhya ranges (Madhya Pradesh) rich in prehistoric remains.

  • Bhimbetka rock shelter as a significant site:

    • Approximately 800 shelters, 500 with paintings.

  • Themes include:

    • Daily life, sacred images, hunting, dancing.

• Classification

  • Divided into historical periods based on style and technique:

    • Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Chalcolithic.

• Artistic Style

  • Linear representations of large animals and stylized humans.

Page 5: Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Periods

• Upper Palaeolithic (Period I)

  • Rich in large animal figures.

  • Colors: Green for dancers, red for hunters.

• Mesolithic (Period II)

  • More common in terms of painting quantity.

  • Features hunting scenes showing humanity's relationship with nature.

  • Vivid depictions of daily life: community dances, food gathering, family representations.

Page 6: Painting Techniques and Survival

• Techniques Used

  • Colors derived from grinding rocks/minerals:

    • Red from haematite, green from chalcedony, white from limestone.

  • Paints mixed with water, fats, gums for application.

  • Preservation of color over thousands of years attributed to rock surface chemistry.

• Purpose and Placement

  • Paintings in prominent locations possibly for spiritual reasons or visibility.

  • Artistic storytelling evident in depictions of daily survival and hunting rituals.

Page 7: Notable Scenes in Paintings

• Dancing and Hunting Scenes

  • Common themes include group activities like dancing and hunting.

  • Skill in depicting forms noted in Mesolithic paintings.

Page 8: Exercises for Engagement

• Reflective Questions

  • Themes of prehistoric paintings: reasons and implications.

  • Preference and analysis of specific visuals.

  • Comparison with contemporary art on walls.

• Rock Layering

  • Overlapping paintings indicating cultural significance or personal dissatisfaction of earlier works.

Page 9: Map of Indus Valley Sites

• Ancient Civilizations

  • Sites listed include:

    • Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, and others in the region of modern India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

  • Highlighting connections between ruins and contemporary urban areas.