Research scholar discovers mesolithic rock art site near Palwancha

Hyderabad: A research scholar from Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) discovered a rock art site of significant prehistoric value near Palwancha in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana.This site is located near Aksaraloddi, between Jagannadhapuram and Annapureddypalli in Mulkalkapalli Mandal, approximately 2 km from Nallamudi village, nestled within dense forest terrain. The rock art includes depictions in red ochre of animals, hunting scenes and human figures rendered on natural rock surfaces."These symbolic images are believed to have been created to convey beliefs, rituals or messages by early human communities to future generations," said Kondaveeti Gopi, the research scholar from MANUU, who made this discovery.He pointed out that this discovery was made during an exploration with a local youth who helped identify the site.Gopi, a senior citizen, earlier brought to light several megalithic and prehistoric sites in the region. He previously discovered the Ontigundu Rock Art site near Nallamudi village and submitted a research paper on it to the Rock Art Society of India (RASI)."Based on the stylistic and thematic elements, these paintings are tentatively dated to the Mesolithic period (approximately 10,000-5,000 BCE) or possibly to the early Neolithic transitional phase. The use of natural red pigment and themes of hunting and animals are typical of the Mesolithic hunter-gatherer culture," he said.In addition to the rock paintings, wood fossils were also identified in the same area, indicating the region's rich ecological and prehistoric past."This new discovery not only adds another chapter to the prehistoric record of Southern India but also stands as a milestone in the exploration of Mesolithic cultural heritage in the Eastern Godavari Basin region," a MANUU release read.