Rock art finds excite aficionados T.S. Subramanian Paintings on rocky outcrops in Tamil Nadu could be 2,500 to 3,000 years old Photo: BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
MOTIFS: K.T. Gandhirajan looking at paintings of circles, semi-circles and geometrical designs, all in red ochre, he discovered at Keezhavalavu near Madurai. CHENNAI: Setting off a fresh flurry of excitement among rock art enthusiasts, creations that portray a hunter, a man rowing a boat, another riding a horse, animals and geometrical designs have been discovered at Tirumalai, Mudalai Kulam, Keezhavalavu and Kongar Puliyankulam in Tamil Nadu.
K.T. Gandhirajan, who specialises in art history, discovered them in December 2008 while surveying Tamil-Brahmi sites in the State.
These four sites have Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, and Jaina beds sculpted out of rock floor. He estimated that these paintings on rocky outcrops on hills could be 2,500 to 3,000 years old.
While Tirumalai is in Sivaganga district, Mudalai Kulam, Keezhavalavu and Kongar Puliyankulam are between 20 and 35 km from Madurai.
The discovery in a rocky shelter at the foot of the Tirumalai hill shows a hunter leading a dog by a rope, a child walking beside the hunter, and a deer. The hunter has the mask of a bird with a prominent beak, Mr. Gandhirajan said.
The paintings have been done in red ochre in outline. The drawing of the hunter has been made employing triangular shapes.
Atop the Tirumalai hill are also several paintings. Outstanding among them is one of two men about to trade blows with each other, one hand trying to block the other man, and the other hand raised, with all the fingers spread out as if to slap the other. These two men have bird-like faces, with prominent beaks. Other paintings Other paintings at Tirumalai include a cluster of human beings drawn out of triangles or "damaru" (small drum) shapes, deer, a man riding a horse, and so on. The drawings of men, employing triangular shapes, are in outline. V. Vedachalam, retired senior epigraphist, Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department, discovered these paintings in 1989.
Mr. Gandhirajan said: "Tirumalai is the only place where rock art is available in both solid form and outline, and in red ochre only. This is rare."
Adjacent to the Tirumalai paintings atop the hill are two Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions on two caverns and a series of Jaina beds on the floor of the caverns.
The inscriptions belong to the 1st century B.C. All the paintings, the Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and Jaina beds have been vandalised with graffiti chiselled into them or painted in bright black, red and white colours.
The painting found at Mudalai Kulam depicts a man rowing a boat. This rock art work, in a withered condition, is found on the ceiling of a small cave and there is a Jaina bed on the floor. Nearby is a Tamil-Brahmi inscription of the 2nd century B.C. that talks about how the assembly of a village called "Vembiloor" dug an "ayam." In Tamil, "ayam" or "kulam" means a pond.
At Keezhavalavu are designs in red ochre of circles, semi-circles and triangles, and other decorative motifs. At Kongar Puliyankulam are paintings of a man riding a horse, human beings and animals done in solid form and outline in white kaolin. Both Keezhavalau and Kongar Puliyankulam have Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and a series of Jaina beds.
These four discoveries are an important addition to about 70 rock-art sites in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Gandhirajan said.