TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2004 09:49:21 PM ]

VADODARA: The 12 prehistoric rock paintings found scattered along
state's eastern tribal belt are perhaps the only indicators that man
also inhabited Gujarat in the Mesolithic period. Like textbooks, they
provide an insight into how the prehistoric man lived, animals he
hunted and tools he used. But with no protection offered either by the
state archaeology department or the Archaeological Survey of India,
these precious remnants of a distant past sit nervously on the edge of
extinction.

In fact a few months ago, Nano Dungar ? a hillock in Tarsang village
of Godhra was damaged after it was blasted with mines for stone.

Experts say these rock art sites, spread over Panchmahals, Vadodara,
Sabarkantha, Bhavnagar and Surendranagar districts, need immediate
attention as most of them are on granite outcrops, which weather more
easily. Most of the rock sites in other states are on sandstone,
considered comparatively more durable.

"There is a serious need to protect these sites as they are prone to
both human and natural destruction," says V H Sonawane, professor at
the Archaeology department at the M S University, adding that, "The
rock paintings at these sites have faded with mechanical, chemical and
physical weathering and at some places even the artwork is damaged."

"Rock paintings in the state have a marked resemblance of style and
theme in depiction of pre-historic and historic paintings with the
Central Indian tradition," adds Sonawane, who was the first to
discover a group of rock shelters with paintings in Tarsang village of
Panchmahals in 1971.

"When we received a complaint that one of the sites at Tarsang was
damaged, we contacted the district officials, but are yet to receive
the report," says J D Trivedi, assistant director at the department.
Sources say that the department does not have the manpower or
financial resources to carry out fieldwork and protection activities.

The Tarsang rock shelters have the earliest rock paintings consisting
of line drawings of several deer, hunters and an animal resembling a
rhinoceros. On the other hand, at Idar the paintings are of stupas. At
Tarsang village, about 30 kilometres from Godhra, the rock paintings
are located within rock shelters of the Maheshwari hill and granite
hillock known as Nano Dungar. These shelters also bear ornate lines
simulating the character of Shanka script along with depiction of
rhinoceros.

Says Sonawane, "Paintings with geometric, floral motifs and symbols
associated with Brahmi letters are found on the Maheshwari hills,which
are likely to be of the period extending from third century BC to
first century AD."

According to archaeological data collected from Idar, there are nine
stupa paintings in two distinct localities on the Idar hills. Out of
these the first group of three shelters containing six stupa paintings
are found near Gambhirpura village while the other group of three
stupa paintings were found on another hill known as Oldario Dungaro.

"The data shows prevalence of Buddhist activities around Idar, an
active centre of various political powers from third century AD." adds
Sonawane. Experts also believe that some rocks near Tejgadh village
can provide clues to understand the Bhil kingdom and tribal history in
the state alike the Bhimbetka paintings of Madhya Pradesh, also listed
as World Heritage Site.

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