TAG: GS-1: HISTORY
CONTEXT: Recent excavations carried out by the State Archaeological Department at Kanhirapoil in Kasargod, Kerala. Many prehistoric rock-cut footprints and human figures were found in it
EXPLANATION:
Why in the news?
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- A pair of human footprints in rock art form has been discovered near Boloor Panne Koteda Babbu Swami shrine in Kanhirapoil in Kasargod, Kerala.
- The footprints are estimated to date back to the first or second century A.D.
About Rock Arts:
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- Rock art can be found in various locations around the world, with notable examples, the Bhimbetka rock shelters in India. Depictions of animals, hunting scenes, and geometric patterns were common motifs in Mesolithic rock art. This reflects the close relationship between early humans and their natural surroundings.
- Rock Arts are ancient, human-made markings/paintings/sculptures made on natural stone.
Rock art consists of paintings, drawings, engravings, stencils, prints, bas-relief carvings and figures in rock shelters and caves, on boulders and platforms.
India houses one of the largest, richest and most diverse repositories of rock art.
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- Prehistoric rock paintings, rock-cut architectures of caves & temples and sculptures carved out of rock are some examples of rock art in India.
- It is often divided into three forms:
- Petroglyphs: These are carved into the rock surface
- Pictographs: These are painted onto the surface
- Earth figures: These are formed on the ground
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Significance of Rock Art
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- Spiritual and cultural heritage:Rock art reflects humankind’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage and has great significance to its creators and their descendants.
- It also has great significance to humanity generally. Its beauty, its symbolism, and its rich narrative means that it is widely appreciated and treasured internationally, regionally, and locally.
- Diverse cultural traditions:Its continued existence is important to help global communities recognize and learn about the diverse cultural traditions, their ancient origins and relationships to the landscapes they have inhabited.
- Tribal communities rely on the rock arts for deriving their cultural connections by following the customs engraved in the rock art.
- Source of history:The rock arts serve, as a “historical record”, detailing the hunting habits and ways of life of the local communities.
- Spiritual and cultural heritage:Rock art reflects humankind’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage and has great significance to its creators and their descendants.
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