The Connection Between Plants and Humans: Rock Art of India

Meenakshi Dubey-Pathak

Plants and humans have shared a complex relationship since prehistoric times. Hominids coevolved with plants for millions of years; even ancient skulls reveal the plant species they ate. Early hunter-gatherer communities illustrate this enduring people–plant web, vividly depicted in Central Indian rock art. This art is globally distinctive for its many direct and indirect plant images—bamboos, grasses, and diverse trees—on rock shelter walls. Plant-based materials were key sustainable resources: sticks, bows and arrows, wood-hafted spears and stone axes, baskets, and traps for small animals and fish. Rock art thus records long-term physical and symbolic interactions with plants and close connections with biodiversity in sacred landscapes. Plant domestication drove the shift from hunter-gatherer to agricultural societies. Over time, humans have developed deep knowledge of plants, including their nutritional and medicinal properties. These ancient relationships persist today. Indian Adivasi/tribal communities still follow many early traditions: using bows and arrows; making bamboo and palm-leaf baskets and mats; crafting small round containers from bamboo roots for tobacco and other items; and creating musical instruments from bamboo, wood, and vegetable gourds. Numerous tree-worship scenes illustrate enduring respect for plants. Their rich knowledge of important herbs and medicinal plants remains highly valued in their communities.