CONCEPT OF PREGNANCY IN PREHISTORIC IN NORTH INDIA

by

VIBHAWATI and

K. TRIPATHI

Introduction Distt. which fulfil the criteria of palaeoli­ Ever since race existed on this t~ic era (7000-10,000 B.C.) as perdescrip­ earth, it always shared the emotions which twn ofi Archaeological Society of India ultimately resulted in various behavioural were screened for any evidence of preg­ responses including a quest for panaecea. nancy an d labour process. A series of Such gross observations became the three such paintings were studied. foundation stone for the history of medi­ Obse1·vations cine, and man for the first time became interested in consoling the grief, helping A. set of 3 rock paintings have a close the pet animals and observing the physio­ similarity which depicts a mammal (cow) logical process like pregnancy. Western having a full grown animal inside the historians have considered their palaeo­ womb. The miniature animal has a lithic rock paintings as one of the impor­ cephalic presentation towards uterine out"""" tant landmark in documenting the history let and the limbs have been drawn in of medicine, and they have proved that flexion attitude. Both of these observations only Western Europe rock paintings have have strict sense of scientific basis, as if maximum contribution in the dawn of some one has observed it in utero or prehistoric medicine. However, few paint­ during the period of parturation (Fig. 1). ings of North India have given a new The other painting shows a miniature thought that probably primitive man of four legged animal with breech presenta­ this country had equal contribution in tion but lacks specification (Fig. 2). The documenting the history as aurugnasian man of Western Europe. Taking into consideration above facts the prehistoric rock paintings of Mirzapur Distt. in U.P. were explored and their relevenoe has been discussed.

Material and Methods Prehisloric rock paintings of Mirzapur

From: Dept. of Ancient History, Archaeology and and Medicine, Banaras Hindu Univer­ sity, Varanasi. Accepted for publication on 22-5-85. Fig. 1 CONCEPT OF PREGNANCY IN PREHISTORIC MEDICINE IN NORTH INDIA 653

third painting deals with a full grown - baby animal (Fig. 3). A line diagram has shown probably a pregnant lady with­ out embryological details (Fig. 4).

Fig. 2

Fig. 3 Fig. 4

Discussion The palaeolithic (7000-10,000 B.C.) Pregnancy being a physiological painting of North India has a very strong pro0ess had little importance to many background to suspect that these primitive early physicians and priests and probably races were skilfull observer and had a women like animals delivered the baby better understanding of pregnancy related and cared them. However, it was only to its complication. Thus this was an occassional complication which drew the earliest observation to be documented in attention of the male partner and thus the the evolution of of knowledge of obstetric became a scienti­ obstetrics in India. fic talk amongst the physicians and a group or skilled people who ultimately tookover the job of obstetricians. It was Reference only period where some paint­ 1. Gupta, J. P.: Prehistoric Indian arts. ings and inscription regarding pregnancy National Publishing House, 196, p. 163- has been depicted. 198. -/.,r<