Rock
art finds excite aficionados -
T.S.
Subramanian
Paintings
on rocky outcrops in Tamil Nadu could be 2,500 to 3,000 years
old
— Photo: BY
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
MOTIFS: K.T. Gandhirajan looking at paintings of circles, semi-circles
and geometrical designs, all in red ochre, he discovered at Keezhavalavu
near Madurai.
CHENNAI:
Setting off a fresh flurry of excitement among rock art enthusiasts,
creations that portray a hunter, a man rowing a boat, another
riding a horse, animals and geometrical designs have been discovered
at Tirumalai, Mudalai Kulam, Keezhavalavu and Kongar Puliyankulam
in Tamil Nadu.
K.T. Gandhirajan,
who specialises in art history, discovered them in December 2008
while surveying Tamil-Brahmi sites in the State.
These four sites
have Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, and Jaina beds sculpted out of
rock floor. He estimated that these paintings on rocky outcrops
on hills could be 2,500 to 3,000 years old.
While Tirumalai
is in Sivaganga district, Mudalai Kulam, Keezhavalavu and Kongar
Puliyankulam are between 20 and 35 km from Madurai.
The discovery
in a rocky shelter at the foot of the Tirumalai hill shows a hunter
leading a dog by a rope, a child walking beside the hunter, and
a deer. The hunter has the mask of a bird with a prominent beak,
Mr. Gandhirajan said.
The paintings
have been done in red ochre in outline. The drawing of the hunter
has been made employing triangular shapes.
Atop the Tirumalai
hill are also several paintings. Outstanding among them is one
of two men about to trade blows with each other, one hand trying
to block the other man, and the other hand raised, with all the
fingers spread out as if to slap the other. These two men have
bird-like faces, with prominent beaks.
Other
paintings:
Other paintings at Tirumalai include a cluster of human beings
drawn out of triangles or “damaru” (small drum) shapes,
deer, a man riding a horse, and so on. The drawings of men, employing
triangular shapes, are in outline. V. Vedachalam, retired senior
epigraphist, Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department, discovered these
paintings in 1989.
Mr. Gandhirajan
said: “Tirumalai is the only place where rock art is available
in both solid form and outline, and in red ochre only. This is
rare.”
Adjacent to
the Tirumalai paintings atop the hill are two Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions
on two caverns and a series of Jaina beds on the floor of the
caverns.
The inscriptions
belong to the 1st century B.C. All the paintings, the Tamil-Brahmi
inscriptions and Jaina beds have been vandalised with graffiti
chiselled into them or painted in bright black, red and white
colours.
The painting
found at Mudalai Kulam depicts a man rowing a boat. This rock
art work, in a withered condition, is found on the ceiling of
a small cave and there is a Jaina bed on the floor. Nearby is
a Tamil-Brahmi inscription of the 2nd century B.C. that talks
about how the assembly of a village called “Vembiloor”
dug an “ayam.” In Tamil, “ayam” or “kulam”
means a pond.
At Keezhavalavu
are designs in red ochre of circles, semi-circles and triangles,
and other decorative motifs. At Kongar Puliyankulam are paintings
of a man riding a horse, human beings and animals done in solid
form and outline in white kaolin. Both Keezhavalau and Kongar
Puliyankulam have Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and a series of Jaina
beds.
These four discoveries
are an important addition to about 70 rock-art sites in Tamil
Nadu, Mr. Gandhirajan said.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/10/stories/2009011053362200.htm
