BHIMBETKA

BHIMBETKA

The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological world heritage site. It is the biggest repository of Pre-historic art in India. The name of the place Bhimbetka is supposed to be associated with the character of the longest epic of the world, the Mahabharata. It is believed that when Pandavas were banished from their kingdom, they stayed in these caves. The word Bhimbetka is said to be derived from Bhimbaithka meaning the seating place of the second Pandava Bhima.

Bhimbetka caves present real proof of the development of humanity. These caves are of great importance because here caves houses used by prehistoric men, a painting made by them, tools and weapons used by them are still intact while exhibiting a long and undisturbed history of Civilization. In Bhimbetka, we can see the world's oldest wall and floor also. These Rock painting are ranging from Upper Palaeolithic (40,000 - 10,000 B.C.), Mesolithic age ( 10,000 - 4,000 B.C.) to proto historic ( 4,000 - 2,500 B.C.), Early historic ( 2,500 - 1,500 B.C.) and Medival period ( 1,500 - 700 B.C.). There are more than 700 caves that spread over an area of about ten sq. kilometer. Most of them are painted caves. These painted caves are of the Mesolithic age.

Bhimbetka caves are situated in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh and 45 kilometers south of Bhopal at the southern age of the Vindhyachal hills. The entire area is covered by dense vegetation and has abundant natural water sources, making these caves a favorite place for the dwelling of pre-historic men. This place as proximity to famous World's Rock art sites such as Kakadu National Park, Australia, Upper Paleolithic Lascaux caves painting in France, and Altamira, Spain. Bhimbetka caves discovered in 1957. The credit of this excavation goes to Dr Vishnu Wakankar, HOD, Archeological museum and excavations, Vikram University, Ujjain. A broad chronology proves that these rock shelters are the oldest known petroglyphs in the world. It is a marvel that these paintings have not faded even after thousands of years. The natural dense forest and vegetation have protected this Rock painting from being destroyed to date. The superimposition on paintings reveals that the same cave walls were used by many artists at different times as canvas. This painting is generally made a deep inside niche, on inner walls, and even on the ceiling of the caves. Generally, Geru, Chalk, and Charcoal have been used as colours. Green and yellow colour has been occasionally used. These colours are natural minerals and pigments. Before using colours were mixed with animal fat. Aboriginal artists of prehistoric paintings used bamboo and fibrous food for making brushes. They painted the theme taken from everyday events like haunting, dancing, music, horse and elephant riders, animal fighting, honey collection, animals such as tigers, lions, wild bears, elephants, dogs, lizards, crocodiles, peacocks, etc. They had also painted disguises and masking, popular religious and ritual symbols. The painted human figure and hunting scenes give a clear picture of the weapon used by them. They used barbed spare, pointed sticks, bows, and arrows. We can see the aboriginal drawing and paintings of communal dance, musical instruments, men carrying the dead animal, etc. It is clear that the main routine of prehistorical men was to kill and eat animals than to dance collectively in a group for enjoyment.

The other places associated with Prehistoric painting in India are Mirzapur, Raigarg, Panchmarhi, Hoshangabad, Bhopal, etc.

Thank you for reading this article.

Our more article - PREHISTORIC ROCK PAINTINGS.