S13-12

Theme, Form and Ethnography: Reflections of the Rock Art From Southern Deccan

Yogi Vemana University, India

The Deccan region of South India possesses extensive granitic and quartzite rock formations, which presented unending canvas for the prehistoric humans to exhibit their cognitive perceptions of the contemporary surroundings and society. In this region, the rock art is associated with the Neolithic and the polychrome paintings of other prehistoric and historical periods. The discussion in this presentation, focusses on analytic and comparative analyses of the Neolithic and Megalithic rock art. A large number of the sites reported here were documented by the author using modern techniques of photography, tracing and GIS techniques. Artists in the Neolithic generally used the ‘bruising’ technique to execute a theme. The technique of rock ‘bruising’ helped them in executing their art form on the unprotected rock face, as it is immune from the vagaries of the nature to a great extent. They also used red ochre for painting rock-shelters and caves. Neolithic rock art themes cover the management of animals, hunting and other activities of the community. There are also some mysterious symbols, which are also reported from other parts of the world. The Iron Age megalithic people executed paintings both in white pigment and red ochre. Their paintings reflect more riding and hunting scenes, and depictions of nature. Interestingly, the night sky in the form of Urs Major was also depicted at one site. Depiction of such constellations have also been noticed on the megalithic monuments in South Korea.