Rock Art of Northeast Methodological and Technical Issues

(5th - 6 th October, 2016)

Organised by

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE ARTS, NEW

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY, NORTH EASTERN HILL UNIVERSITY, TURA CAMPUS,

Contents

Page No. IGNCA’s Contribution in Rock Art Studies 9 - 10 Seminar Concept Note 11 - 12 Programme Schedule 15 Abstracts 19 - 42

I. Rock Art of Northeastern India: Some Methodological Issues 19 A. Sundara II. Rock Engravings from Brahmaputra Valley : Context and 21 Preservation Dwipen Bezbaruah III. Rock Art in with Special Reference to the Ruangmei Tribe 22 P. Binodini Devi

IV. Engravings on Monoliths of Dimapur: A Review of Hutton's Work 23 Garima akuria V. Engravings in : Some Methodological Issues 24 R. K. Mohanty

VI. Hominid Adaptations in Prehistoric North-East India with Special 25 Emphasis on the Ganol and Rongram River Valley, Garo Hills, Meghalaya Sukanya Sharma Contents

Page No. VII. Rock Art of North-East India: Some Observations 26 V. H. Sonawane

VIII. Observations on Some Unique Rock Art Features of 27 Ditamulu Vasa Tiatoshi Jamir

IX. Petroglyphs at Pallong, District Manipur 29 Huidromcha Suraj Singh X. Recent Discovery of Rock Art in Tawang, West Kemeng and Upper 30 Siang District of Nabaji Deori

XI. Engravings on Megaliths in 31 Malsawmliana XII. Cup-Marks: A Prospect of its Study in North-East India 32 Salam Shyam Singh

XIII. Rock Art in Folklore: A Preliminary Study of Petroglyphs from a 33 Garo Village Queenbala Marak XIV. Traditional Method of Preparing Lac and Pigments among Garos 34 Tiana Arengh Monika Kalita Contents

Page No. XV. Khasi Traditional Technology and Culture: A Probe in the Ri-Bhoi 36 Area Benora Batemon Masharing

XVI. Tattoo Culture among the Nagas of Nagaland with Special Reference 37 to Ao Nagas Yilobemo Sangma

XVII. e Memorial Stones or Monoliths of Mizoram as Rock Art and its 38 Stipulation Aten Nungshi

XVIII. Wild Animals in the Prehistoric Rock Art of the Malaprabha 39 Basin and Prospect for North-East India Rock Art R. Mohana

XIX. An Approach to Rock Art Research 40 B. L. Malla

XX. Circles and its Variants in Indian Rock Art: A Synthesis 42 Riza Abbas

XXI. Recent Research on the Rock Art of Jwalapuram 43 Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh Ravi Korisettar

Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

IGNCA’s Contribution to Rock Art Studies

Rock art is one of our greatest surviving art encourage Indian scholars to take up this new treasures. It is a vital archaeological source to discipline very seriously, as it is directly related to study and analyse the cognitive evolution of the the primeval vision of man which is perhaps the human intellect across the world. As the written rst creative act of human being. Its proper word had not yet been conceived, the urge to study can take roots of our civilization articulate, document and preserve ideas and thousands of years back. events found expression through pictorial representations. IGNCA is one of the few IGNCA under its programme - Adi Indian institutions working in the eld of rock Drishya (primeval vision of man) has initiated art studies from a holistic perspective. While eld documentation at national level for looking into the importance of this earliest preserving the rock art sites/data, which is artistic activity of human beings, IGNCA has otherwise open to human vandalism and natural taken up its documentation, study and factors beyond one’s control. While recognising dissemination very seriously. e Centre has the importance of the rock art for the present conceived a major academic programme, which generation and posterity, the phase wise eld relates to exploring artistic manifestations documentation has been planned in different emanating from man's primary sense states of India with rock art concentration. e perceptions. Amongst the senses that lead to main objective of the project is to make textual, aesthetic experience are vision (Drishya) and contextual, video-photo documentation and hearing (Shrvya). Rock art forms a crucial communicate with people in the hinterland for component of the Adi Drishya programme. Its archaeological research, and to build up a bio- conceptual plan aims to open the doors to the cultural map, a mental and ecological atlas of the realization that rock art is pure and absolute, and rock art landscape on the basis of hence capable of dispensing great experience documentation of related folklore, and natural beyond its original culture and time. and manmade features. Based on research and documentation etc., the publications are being Rock art study is an emerging discipline brought out both in print and electronic media. in India. IGNCA has initiated many projects/programmes for its study, research and As a part of its outreach programme, its outreach. A number of Survey and Pilot IGNCA is organising different programmes for Study programmes are being organised as a part capacity building like organisation of special of IGNCA’s Adi Drishya project to encourage lectures and orientation workshops for the scholars to work in this emerging discipline researchers and university students; for general to keep them updated about the status of rock awareness among the school/college students art research in a global perspective and to and general masses; temporary and mobile exhi-

09 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

-bitions, workshops for children are being reviews in professional journals and its wide organised at the national/state/international coverage in both print and electronic media levels. General awareness workshops are also (National/ Vernacular) are quite encouraging. being organised at different tehsil/block levels Some of the universities have started taking the for the local administration and for the subject very seriously. Briey, the goal to be set is community members living around the rock art not merely the development of a database and sites. multimedia gallery/displays but also to establish Adi Drishya into a school of thought and e impact of projects/programmes research on alternate means of understanding undertaken by IGNCA is immense and prehistoric art. For achieving all the goals, the overwhelming. It can be assessed by the outreach/ general awareness programmes, responses of the children, scholars and general inventorisation and interpretive research of rock masses participating/visiting in these art are going on hand in hand. programmes/events throughout India. e

Dr. B. L. Malla Project Director Rock Art Department Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts New Delhi-110001

Dr. Tilok akuria Assistant Professor & Seminar Coordinator Dept. of History and Archaeology North Eastern Hill University Tura Campus, Meghalaya-794002

10 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

Concept Note National Seminar on Rock Art of Northeast India Methodological and Technical Issues

Rock art, begun with the Upper Paleolithic form of petroglyph has been discovered and period, is one of the early expressions of art of recorded. Nagaland presents some decorative early human. Rock art is found in diverse engravings on rock surface in addition to cultural context from many regions of Africa, engravings reported on menhirs. e menhirs Asia, Australia and Europe. India possess a or the upright stones reported from Mizoram respectful position in terms of rock art as it has carry the engravings of human gures, animals been reported from almost all parts of the (mainly mithun), birds, weapons like spear, dao, country beginning from Upper Paleolithic gongs, ornaments and decorative motifs. onwards. Rock art can be divided into two Engravings are known from Khoupum hill near broad categories as “pictographs” and and districts of Manipur. ese “petroglyphs”. Pictograph is the common form evidences suggest that petroglyph is perhaps the of rock art and found extensively. It is line common form of rock art in Northeast India. drawing made on the surface of stone using However, it does not deny the presence of pigment. Petroglyphs can be created by pictograph in the region. So far no pictograph scratching the stone surface. Rock art in has been convincingly found from the region, Northeast India are rare compared to the other and this may be due to lack of interest on rock regions of the country and comprised of both art or lack of specic eld investigations for pictographs and petroglyphs. Northeast India is nding rock art. One has to admit that the considered as cross road for migration of region is not getting desired attention for prehistoric populace and cultures for its prehistoric research for reasons such as convenient geographical location to East and ignorance, difficult geography and political Southeast Asia. e region has given signicant situations. archaeological evidences belonging to Hoabinhian and Neolithic cultures. ough A seminar, therefore, is desirable on not in clear context, there are artefactual various issues on rock art in Northeast Indian evidences discovered from Garo Hills and context. Rock art research in Northeast India is Arunachal regarding Palaeolithic presence in in formative stage, and thus require conceptual Northeast India. and methodological framework to be set up in order to avoid ambiguities and the seminar e possibility of nding of Pleistocene intends to initiate a serious discussion on the archaeological record is unconvincing to deny issue. Moreover, the multi-disciplinary when argued the region as cultural cross road for approaches to the study of rock art need to be early human migrations with East and appreciated and promoted for their holistic Southeast Asia. Presence of prehistoric rock art understanding. e ecological, geological, in this region is thus expectable. ere are a geographical and archaeological factors are number of sites in Assam, Nagaland,Manipur, undeniable while locating or discovering rock Meghalaya and Mizoram where rock art in the art. Likewise, contributions from social sciences

11 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

aspects of rock art, the seminar aims to provide a learning platform for aspiring participants on rock art in general and of Northeast India in particular.

e tentative sub themes of the seminar are outlined as follows; however, more sub themes related to rock art studies can be accommodated depending on the paper to be presented:

1. Rock Art: its meaning and Northeast India (NEI) context 2. Prehistoric background of NEI and context of rock art 3. Methodological issues related to rock art studies in NEI 4. Rock Art in NEI: nature of evidence i.e., pictograph and petroglyph 5. Rock Art and scientic approach: documentation, analysis, dating and photography 6. Ethnography in rock art studies 7. Geological and Geographical importance of NEI in locating rock art.

12 Programme Schedule

Rock Art in Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

Programme Schedule

5 October, 2016 6 October, 2016

INAUGURAL SESSION: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Tea Break : 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm

ACADEMIC SESSIONS

Pre Lunch Session: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Pre Lunch Session: 10:30 am - 1:30 pm

Lunch Break: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Lunch Break: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Post Lunch Session: 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm Panel discussion : 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm & Valedictory Session

15

Abstracts

Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

I

Rock Art of Northeastern India: Some Methodological Issues

A. Sundara

mong regions with rock art sites in Similarly, in North-East India it is very different parts of India, North-East essential in the rst place to understand the AIndia is one. In the recent years some physical environment such as the behaviour of rock art sites are traced here and there besides hills, drainage pattern, ora, fauna, rocks, some prehistoric Stone Age sites. In view of such minerals, climate and soils etc. of the whole discoveries it is promising that the entire region region. In the light of what is known the to a considerable extent is potential in explorer will have to plan investigation. Most of prehistoric heritage and therefore desirable to be the sites known so far are rock engravings on the explored intensively and methodically and open boulders scattered here and infrequently therefore, necessarily to develop methods for on hillocks. Rock paintings are reasonably discovering sites suitable to the region. scarcely found if not totally absent in some favourable situation. However prehistoric First, it is very essential to be very well human settlements are rarely found in the acquainted with the physical environment of vicinity of such sites. the whole region: the geological formations and the geographical features. Northern In the rst place it is therefore necessary with which I am rather acquainted, especially to look for such settlements within the the southern part is crisscrossed with reasonable surroundings of the known rock art innumerable mountain ranges of the sites. Further, in the region shelters and caves are sedimentary rocks such as sand/lime stone found but scattered boulders not suitable for which reigns of semiprecious stones such as rock paintings. Keeping these points in view the jasper chert etc. in the western part and remaining region is to be intensively explored peninsular gneissic rocky formations in the for tracing not only rock art sites but also human eastern enclosing here and there frequently settlements in the favorable geographical and fertile open lands drained with many rivers fed geological situations. It is therefore necessary to with numerous rivulets. In the western part are constitute a team of experts comprising besides innumerable rock shelters but rather archaeologists, geologists, anthropologists and infrequently shallow open caves and in the other appropriate scientists. eastern part, countless number of deep caves and shelters. In the river valley regions are traced pre Secondly, it is to be noted that the region and protohistoric sites ranging from the early like most of the other regions in the country, is Palaeolithic to the Iron Age megalithic in rich in tribal communities, their art and hundreds. traditions. Selectively an attempt should be made to put them in chronological order and to

19 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

study accordingly their styles and characteristics Prof. A. Sundara, born in 1932, is an eminent as well as oral traditions associated with them. Indian Archaeologist. He held important positions From them it is necessary to identify the in many institutions and universities during his common and new gures through the ages. It tenure of service. He has published 15 academic should be kept in mind that art and traditions of books on Indian archaeology and culture. He has these communities have come down published more than 350 research papers in considerably from a remote past. Wherever such national and international journals and in edited very ancient pictures and the associated books. He has delivered 100 keynote/presidential/ traditions are available possibility of nding inaugural address and more than 150 research similar art pictures may be expected on rocks as papers presented in seminars. He has received many well executed before the beginning of regular awards for his outstanding contributions to Indian habitations. Nay, they will also help in archaeology. Some of the awards are Karnataka understanding some of the rock pictures. I think Puratattva Ratna, Dr. V. S. Wakankar award, keeping in view these two important factors; Sam. Baa. Joshi Prashasti etc. methods will have to be developed for exploration. Prof. A. Sundara “Kartikeya” Sharada Negara Shringeri-577139 ChikMagaluru district, Karnataka Email: [email protected]

20 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

II

Rock Engravings from Brahmaputra Valley Assam: Context and Preservation

Dwipen Bezbaruah

ock engravings of Brahmaputra valley highly unstable area affected by seismic and in Assam has mainly been recorded uvial activities and the structures recorded Rfrom Uma Tumoni, Biswanath Ghat of point out to this event of history. e gneissic Sonitpur district and Kanai Borosi and complex recorded from Uma Tumoni as well as Dirgheswari of North Guwahati. Sporadic North Guwahati areas is also conducive for the occurrence of engravings has also been reported creation of the art engravings. e paper seeks to from Hatisila, Sapaidong of discuss these issues in details in the light of the and Mayong of . e recent investigation in to the rock art forms in Brahmaputra valley is marked by high the Brahmaputra valley of Assam. occurrence of oods, erosion, sedimentation and also affected by seismic activities. Such an Dr. Dwipen Bezbaruah is an Associate Professor in environmental condition has adversely affected the Department of Anthropology, Gauhati the preservation of rock art sites. Association of University. His areas of research are worship with the sites is another issue that needs Ethnoarchaeology, Stone Age Archaeology, ethnic to be considered as far as the preservation of the issues of NE India. He also has sixteen years sites is concerned. e engraved art form that teaching experience in University. He has several has been recorded basically belong to the early articles in international and national journals to historical period and contextualisation of the his credits. He has also attended many workshops ndings lead to many interesting historical as and courses at national and international level. well as geological facts. e areas of Sonitpur where the engraved art from Uma Tumoni has Dr. DwipenBezbaruah been recovered was the abode of the Bana Associate Professor, dynasty which has legendary connection with Department of Anthropology, the Mahabharata. Other archaeological remains Gauhati University, Assam from the area also indicate the existence of a Email: dbbaruah@rediffmail.com central political system centering Tezpur. e inuence of Koch and later Ahom kingdoms is also known from the sources of history as far as Kamrup and Morigaon areas are concerned. Geologically, Uma Tumoni indicates a very

21 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

III

Rock Art in Manipur with Special Reference to the Ruangmei Tribe

P. Binodini Devi

ock Art in India was discovered around Dr. P. Binodini Devi, born in 1959, is one of the 150 years ago, yet hardly a few leading archaeologists of North-East India. Rarchaeologists will be able to point to Currently she is serving in P.G. Dept. of an instance of rock art in Manipur when Anthropology, D. M. College of Science, Imphal. enquired about it. Her areas of research mainly are Megalithic Culture of North-East India, Ethno-archaeology Manipur is one of the smallest hilly and Indigenous Knowledge System. Currently, she states of India. is part of India is is also working on rock art in Manipur. She has archaeologically least known. is state is published many research papers in national and occupied by various ethnic groups like the international journals. She has two more books in Meiteis/Meeteis, the Meetei Pangals, the Naga her credit. groups and the Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups, and the other Indian communities. Some of these communities practiced carving drawing, and Dr. P. Binodini Devi engraving works on different rocks having P. G. Dept. of Anthropology various motifs. D. M. College of Science Imphal, Manipur e present paper will try to focus more Email: [email protected] on the rock art of the Ruangmai Tribe. Most of the illustrations and photographs given here have not been published before and few of them discovered during my eld work recently.

22 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

IV

Engravings on Monoliths of Dimapur: A Review of Hutton's Work

Garima akuria

he carved and decorated stone pillars at with a swelling on the inside of each arm have Dimapur have been signicant since resemblance not only with the Naga monoliths Tthe prehistoric times. ough in ruins but also with those found from the Kachari at present, the ornamental monoliths belonging villages in north Kamrup where miniature to the ancient Kachari kingdom,have been wooden Y has been placed in front of the village regarded as a very rare form of art and studied by naamghar that replaces the original morungor J. H. Hutton as early as in 1922. ese deka-chang owing to the partial Hinduization monoliths are located at the foot of the Naga of the tribe. Elephants, deer, peacocks, tigers Hills in Dhansiri valley; are enormous in size; attacking elephants, circular representations of both round and forked shaped found in single probably the sun or moon have been among the stone obtained from the gorge of Diphu river, carvings. e present paper shall review the which Hutton believed to be due to the Austric work of J. H. Hutton on the monoliths of (Mon-Khmer) element in the fused races Dimapur. inhabiting the area. e purpose of erection has been a matter for speculation because the Garima akuria is a Ph.D. scholar in Dept. of Kachari kings who were driven away from that Anthropology, University of Delhi. She is working place in A. D. 1536, have left behind no written on the topic “Neolithic Culture of Assam”. She has record. It was Hutton who speculated its presented research papers in seminars in India and signicance by observing ceremonies like Lisü abroad. She has published two research papers among the Angamis of Kohima in which related to her area of research interest. She has also wooden posts were used, and found that the worked as Research Associate in NESRC, post symbols have been associated directly or Guwahati. indirectly with the fertility of crops and cattle. Furthermore, he could trace a distinct evolution of shape among the stone pillars and Y-shaped Ms. Garima akuria monoliths at Dimapur. ere, the cylindrical Research Scholar monoliths have been carved supercially only Dept. of Anthropology having a sort of knob on the top. Whereas, the University of Delhi rest are deeply cut into a design known as Email: [email protected] “enemies' teeth”. e Y-shaped posts with inwardly and backwardly curved arms at the top

23 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

V

Engravings in Northeast India: Some Methodological Issues

R. K. Mohanty

ock art in Northeast India is a issues in studying and documenting engravings developing area of research. e found in Northeast India. Rsystematic archaeological research started in the region around 1960s when Prof. R. K. Mohanty is former Head of methodological excavation was undertaken at Department of Archaeology, Deccan College Daojali Hading. Since then archaeological PGRI, Pune. He has vast experience on the Iron researches are conned to locating and Age Archaeology, Early Historic Archaeology, establishing the prehistoric culture, mainly the Indian Art and Architecture and Indian Bead Neolithic cultural pattern, in the region. ese Studies. He has directed many archaeological researches were undertaken mainly by local excavations at various places in India. His recent universities and local scholars. e explorations archaeological work in is an outstanding and excavations established the distribution contribution to Indian Archaeology to understand pattern of Neolithic sites, techno-typology and the formation of Early Historic states and polity in Southeast Asian cultural link. Besides evidence eastern India from the early beginning of settled life of Neolithic, the region is still to produce clear in Odisha. He is co-author of two books- one is cut evidence on Palaeolithic cultures. “Excavations at Sisupalgarh” and the other is Prehistoric rock art in the region is still an area of “Indian Beads: History and Technology”. He is also research to be taken up methodologically. So far editor of the volume “Indian Megaliths”. He has no pictograph is known from the region, but published more than 70 research papers and there are reports of nding petrograph in the presented them in India and abroad. forms of cup-marks and engravings. Engravings are only on megalithic monuments and rarely on natural rock surfaces. e engravings on Prof. R. K. Mohanty megalithic monuments have immense Former HoD (Archaeology) signicance in understanding social and Deccan College PGRI, Pune cultural behavior of the people who made those. Email: rabikm@rediffmail.com Moreover, the tradition is still alive in certain geographical pockets in the region among some indigenous groups and the continuity of it provides a scope to conduct ethnographic studies on techniques and sociology of it. e paper therefore proposes some methodological

24 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

VI

Hominid Adaptations in Prehistoric North-East India with Special Emphasis on the Ganol and Rongram River Valley, Garo Hills, Meghalaya

Sukanya Sharma

orth-East India is situated between two highest concentration of prehistoric sites in different environmental systems, the North-East India, on the basis of site setting and Nmonsoonal tropics and the tropical typo-technological analysis of the stone tools. rainforest zone. Hypothetically, the development of prehistoric culture in the area is Dr. Sukanya Sharma is presently Associate attributed to the regional ecology. ere appears Professor in the Department of Social Sciences and to be a synthesis of two types of cultural traits, Humanities in Indian Institute of Technology, Indian and South-East Asian. ese are Guwahati. She is one of the leading archaeologists adaptability conditions indigenous to the of North-East India. Her research interests are region. It explains the relationship between lithics of the prehistoric period of North-East India, prehistoric human behaviour and observable archaeological pottery of North-East India and archaeological record of the region, which heritage studies. She has two books to her credit consists of stone tools and pottery. A careful entitled “Celts, Flakes and Bifaces: e Garo Hills observation of the tool making techniques and Story” and “A Source Book of Archaeology of the types of tools produced reveals the modes of Himalayan Region Arunachal Pradesh”. Besides, adaptation developed by prehistoric man. An she has published many research papers in archaeological site is dened as a particular international and national journals and as locale within a habitat, together with its chapters in edited books. immediate setting. We have to study the surroundings of an archaeological site to Dr. Sukanya Sharma understand the type of resources available. e Associate Professor types of resources govern the different modes of Dept. of Social Sciences and Humanities adaptation developed by the inhabitants of an Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati area. Email: [email protected] In this paper an attempt has been made to understand the adaptive strategies developed by the prehistoric inhabitants of the region, focusing on the Garo Hills, an area with the

25 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

VII

Rock Art of North-East India: Some Observations

V. H. Sonawane

or a long time, after the pioneering Culture, and Director of Field Archaeology. In his discoveries made in 1867 by colonial dedicated academic service of 36 years, he has Fgeologist Archibald Carlleyle in the worked on various aspects of Prehistoric, Proto- forested region of Kaimur ranges in Mirzapur historic and Historic Archaeology besides Rock Art, district of , the existence of rock and has been associated with important premier art in India was an enigma and even its very academic-governance bodies of the country. He antiquity was questioned. However, though its carried out extensive research work encompassing a study crossed the threshold of archaeology wide range of areas, including Rock Art of Gujarat rather late, the discovery of Bhimbetka in 1957 and Harappan affiliated Chalcolithic settlements by V. S. Wakankar brought a new momentum for the rst time in Gujarat. Apart from his active recognizing its archaeological potential. Since involvement in achieving the World Heritage rock art constitutes natural surfaces within status for Pavagadh, Champaner and the discovery suitable rock formation is the foremost of intact zinc furnaces at Zawar in Rajasthan, his prerequisite for creation of rock paintings or contributions for Gujarat securing her a engravings. erefore, it is but natural to come permanent place in the eld of Rock Art in the across rock art by and large conned to those country is also recognized. He participated and regions where suitable rock forms are found in made presentations at more than 100 national and plenty. Rock type is also a factor responsible in international seminars and conferences. He had the survival of rock art. e caves and rock widely travelled to different parts of the world shelters often offered suitable temporary habitat including countries like Australia, France, Italy, to the nomadic hunter gatherers and provided Iran, Sri Lanka, China , ailand, Singapore and the necessary canvas for the creation of rock art. Malaysia. In the light of above background this paper discusses some of the shortcomings of the Prof. V. H. Sonawane investigations carried out by the rock art 403, Subhadra Greens researchers working in this one of the most Surya Vilas Society, Gorti potential but lesser known regions of India, so Vadodra, Gujarat -390021 far rock art studies is concerned. Email: vhsonawane@rediffmail.com Prof. Vishwasrao H. Sonawane had pursued his Ph. D. from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, where he later served as a Professor of Archaeology and Ancient Indian History &

26 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

VIII

Observations on Some Unique Rock Art Features of Nagaland

Ditamulu Vasa Tiatoshi Jamir

any historians have considered rock focusing on economic intensication, regional art to be representations of primitive networks and landscape approaches. Some of her Msource of writing. e rock carvings work is published in books. Her work of interest lies found in Nagaland seem impressive. ey in heritage management, studying tangible and formed an important part of Naga cultural legacy intangible culture of indigenous people and ethno- as it bears evidence of prosperity, of artistic archaeology. She is currently a part of a research excellence and also contributes towards team on Carnelian Crafts of South Asia jointly reconstructing scenes of the ancient way of life. undertaken by the School of Tourism, Kobe Japan Part of it has already been destroyed or lost over and the Department of History and Archaeology, the past few years. e paper focuses on study Nagaland University. She is also a part of research areas covering tribes such as Angami, Ao, Chang, team involved in the study of Nagaland megaliths Konyak, Rengma and Zeliang. By virtue, the and the Neolithic monuments of northern-central Naga traditional art mostly composed of carvings Europe jointly undertaken by a team from institute on wood of wide variety of subjects such as for Pre-historic and Proto-historic Archaeology at human, birds, animals, sh, reptiles etc. As such the Christian Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany the evidence of Rock art that existed here is and German Archaeological Institute, Romisch special; it also seems spectacular as it reects Germanische Kommission Frankfurt, Germany ancient experience and spirituality. ey stand and the Department of History and Archaeology, where aspects of ceremony, belief and history are Nagaland University, Kohima. recorded in visual form. ey also stand as testament of bygone years of indigenous culture Dr. Tiatoshi Jamir is Associate Professor in the and cultural interaction with other creatures, Department of History & Archaeology, Nagaland other people and the environment. Rock art University, Kohima Campus. He is one of the well- forms a major component of art history and known archaeologists from North-East India. He behaves as an archive of indigenous art. obtained M.A. in Archaeology from Deccan College PGRI, Pune and later Ph.D. on Mortuary Dr. Ditamulu Vasa teaches Archaeology in the Archaeology from the same institute. His areas of Department of History and Archaeology Nagaland research interest are History of Ideas, Archaeology of University, Kohima Campus. Her archaeological North-East India, Community Archaeology & and ethnographic eld experience involves eld Archaeological Heritage Management and Ethn- based research in various areas including Anthropology of technology in ceramic research

27 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

-omusicology. Besides seminar presentations and publication of several research papers, he is the author, co-author and editor of books related to Archaeology and Culture of North-East India. Two of his recently published co-authored books are “Archaeology of Naga Ancestral Sites: Recent Archaeological Investigations at Chungliyimti and Adjoining sites (Vol-1)” and “Archaeology of Naga Ancestral Sites: Recent Archaeological Investigations in Phek and Kiphire Districts of Nagaland (Vol-2)”.

Dr. Ditamulu Vasa Assistant Professor Department of History and Archaeology Nagaland University, Kohima Campus Email: [email protected]

Dr. Tiatoshi Jamir Associate Professor Department of History and Archaeology, Nagaland University, Kohima Campus Email: tiatoshijamir@rediffmail.com

28 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

IX

Petroglyphs at Pallong, Tamenglong District Manipur

Huidromcha Suraj Singh

ecent discovery at Pallong has brought to be seen how much effort can be given to to the petroglyphic world a new interlink and preserve the vanishing tradition by Rinteresting clue about the Nagas' ways the academic world. of life in the remote past. Pallong a one and half hours drive village from the district headquarter Huidromcha Suraj Singh is a Ph.D. research of Tamenglong represents a typical engraving of scholar in Manipur University. He is working on footmarks all over the surface of rock table. e petroglyphs of Manipur and Mizoram in his Ph. D. site being deep into the jungle remained virgin research. He is an ICHR junior research fellow. for a long time unknown and untouched by the academics and specialists. ere is a water body over the long rock surface which is believed to be Mr. Huidromcha Suraj Singh a Female Goddess. Tradition goes like this- Research Scholar, Department of History whenever the water body gets dried up, rains Manipur University, Manipur begin to start in a few minutes so that it lls up Email: [email protected] body and the persons who were involved in this met with a fatal death. Villagers believed that the water represents a wrapper (Feishoi) to cover the private part of the Goddess. Around the water body there are engravings of footmarks depicting a certain taboo. It was told that the footmarks were of the newly to-be-wed bride. e bride-to- be came over there with her close friends to seek the blessings of the Goddess. However, this very practice has gone down with the coming of Christianity in the village long back. After this, the villagers have never looked back. It remains

29 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

X

Recent Discovery of Rock Art in Tawang, West Kameng and Upper Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh

Nabaji Deori

orth-East India is an important geo- rock surface in Arunachal. ese discoveries will cultural area for anthropological and surely help in understanding the nature and Narchaeological research. e region survival of Buddhism in difficult ecological has tremendous scope in understanding cultural situation in Arunachal. e present paper aims diversity, population migration and cultural to highlight some of such recent discoveries affinities with East and South-East Asia. from Arunachal. Arunachal Pradesh being a bordering state to East Asia holds signicance in Prehistoric Mr. Nabajit Deori, born in 1972, is currently research and discovery. working as Technical Officer in the Directorate of Archaeology, Assam. He obtained his Masters Recent investigation made in Tawang degree in Anthropology from Gauhati University district resulted discovery of series of cup marks and later PG Diploma in Archaeology from on stone surface. ese cup marks though Institute of Archaeology, New Delhi. He started his difficult to dene chronologically perhaps have career as Technical Assistant in the Directorate of prehistoric affiliation. Further work in and Research, Arunachal Pradesh. During his tenure in around the cup marks areas may reveal traces of Arunachal Pradesh, he carried out number of prehistoric settlements. explorations and excavations. He is the co-author of a book entitled “Archaeological Heritage of Besides cup marks, there are engravings Arunachal Pradesh”. He has also explored and on natural rock surface. e engravings were excavated archaeological sites in Assam after noticed mainly in Tawang and West Kameng joining Directorate of Archaeology, Assam. districts. e engravings narrated the Jataka Recently, he published another book entitled “Da stories and gures of Lord Buddha. Paintings of Parbotiar Sowali Dujoni” in Assamese on Buddha and Buddhists were noticed on natural archaeological remains of North-East, India. He rock surface during the investigation. e has also wrote many research articles and presented Upper Siang district also has engravings papers in state level as well as national seminars on belonging to Buddhist traditions. Archaeology.

Arunachal has rich tradition of Mr. Nabajit Deori Buddhism and is still practiced in and around Technical Officer Tawang. erefore, there is scope to nd rock art Directorate of Archaeology, Assam in form of painting and engraving on natural Email: deorinabajit@rediffmail.com

30 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

XI

Engravings on Megaliths in Mizoram

Malsawmliana

he practice of erecting megaliths is one during their life time. of the striking features of the Mizo us the paper attempts to highlight Tculture. In Mizo society, megaliths are the engravings made on the stone monuments closely connected with the feasts of merit. in Mizoram and even in Chin Hills of Burma Erection of menhirs or upright stones is a and different styles of carvings indicating the common practice followed by the erection of technological advancement of the Mizo in their other types of monuments, such as stone seats, earlier period. platforms and heaps of stone (cairns), etc. Similar types of megalithic structures are also Dr. Malsawmliana obtained his M.A in Ancient found in other north eastern states of India and Indian History from NEHU, Shillong and Ph.D. even in some parts of Chin Hills, Burma from the same university. Currently, he is working (Myanmar), mainland South East Asian as Assistant Professor in Govt. T. Romana College, countries. Since the Mizos believed to have Aizawl. He has published a number of research settled sometimes in South East Asian countries papers in journals and contributed like Myanmar for a century, various numbers of chapters/articles in edited books. He has also such kind of stones can still be seen. edited two volumes entitled- ”Social, Economic and Political History of the Mizo” (2011) and e important and striking feature of “Politics of Regionalism in North East India” the megaliths in Mizoram is the engraving of (2014). He also published two books in Mizo gures. Megaliths are decorated with the language i.e. “South Sabual Chanchin” (2002) engraving of gures such as human beings, and “uziaklankhawm” (2002), besides animals, tools, weapons and prestige goods of publishing research papers in journals. the Mizo. e engravings on Mizo megaliths which include gures of humans, animals, Dr. Malsawmliana weapons, tools and prestigious goods, provide Assistant Professor Department of History valuable insights into the relationship between Govt. T. Romana College, Aizwal the megaliths and the Mizo society. e Email: [email protected] carvings of prestigious goods such as necklaces, gongs, guns etc., on the memorial stones of chiefs and thangchhuahpa are indicative of the high position of such individuals in the society

31 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

XII

Cup-Marks: A Prospect of its Study in North-East India

Salam Shyam Singh

cup-mark is a shallow and roughly Dr. Salam Shyam Singh is currently working as circular depression which is generally Assistant Archaeologist, in the Guwahati Circle of Apecked and then ground into a stone. Archaeological Survey of India. His areas of Cup-marks are a specic group of monuments research interest are prehistory and megalithic widely prevalent in many countries of the culture of Northeast India. He recently obtained world at different periods. In Europe and Ph.D. degree from Manipur University and American countries they have been widely worked on “Prehistoric Cultures of Northeast studied. But the study on cup-marks in India is India”. very scanty. eir existence is hardly known and neglected. Recently archaeological surveys were conducted by the Archaeological Survey of Dr. Salam Shyam Singh India, Guwahati Circle for locating Assistant Archaeologist archaeological remains in different areas of the Archaeological Survey of India, Guwahati Circle North-East India. I was also one of the members Email: [email protected] of the survey team and came across the evidences of cup-marks at the sites such as Zemithang in Arunachal Pradesh, Umkon in Meghalaya, Dungtlang, Farkawn, and Cherhlun in Mizoram, Khonoma in Nagaland. e existence of holes on the rock surfaces are reported earlier from the excavated site at Chungliyimti in Nagaland. Finding of the cup- marks in the remote areas of this region paved a prospective path for research on the cup-marks which occasionally exist and hardly studied in Indian sub-continent. is paper is presented with a view to identify the nature of these cup- marks, their contextual study, their probable purposes and their periods/dates comparing with that of the areas where the cup-marks are widely studied including ethnographic information collected from the natives who have settled near these cup-mark-sites.

32 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

XIII

Rock Art in Folklore: A Preliminary Study of Petroglyphs from a Garo Village

Queenbala Marak

he meaning and antiquity of rock art in Queenbala Marak is a faculty in the Department the context of North-East India is still of Anthropology, North-Eastern Hill University, Tcontestable. Nevertheless, there have Shillong. She has successfully carried out several been reports of petroglyphs on rock surfaces research projects and her research areas have mostly from different parts of the region. Oral history been concentrated on the Garos of India and and folklore could go a long way in providing an Bangladesh. She has published over 50 research alternative contextual interpretation, in the papers in different Indian and international absence of any other. is paper will discuss the journals. Her research interests lie in Garo studies – interface between folklore and rock art, and the from the prehistoric to the present times. Her various interpretations that can develop. As a published papers represent her interests on symbolic case study, it will discuss the petroglyphs found anthropology, mainly in the areas of food, rituals, in a village populated by Garos in the outskirts and material culture, especially of the prehistoric of Guwahati city. times. She recently authored two books - "Food Politics: Studying Food, Identity, and Difference On a rock in the midst of open ground, among the Garos" (2014) published by CSP, UK in the village of Achiksong, are found certain and “Doing Autoethnography” (2016) by Serials, petrographic gures such as birds, bows, New Delhi. circular marks etc. e antiquity of this rock and the art therein is debatable, since no dating technique has been applied. However, of Dr. Queenbala Marak interest is the presence of a group of rock Assistant Professor shelters above these stone with rich cultural lore Dept. of Anthropology and meanings attached. If the folklore North Eastern Hill University, Shillong surrounding the cluster of rock shelters is Email: [email protected] analysed, these petroglyphs assume a meaning of its own.

33 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

XIV

Traditional Method of Preparing Lac and Pigments among Garos

Tiana Arengh Monika Kalita

he Garos are the indigenous inhabitants of Meghalaya in North-East India. ey Every household extract and produce Tare mostly concentrated in the Garo hills lac for domestic consumption and also for region of Meghalaya but they can also be located commercial purposes. Even till date, lac is still in Kamrup, Goalpara and Khasi hills region of being produced in small amounts in villages for Assam, Mymensing district of Bangladesh and domestic use and sold in local markets. In the Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts of West northern part of Garo hills, the lac insects are Bengal.e legend says that the Garos or still bought and sold in their local markets e.g. A´chiks have migrated from Tibet under the Nogol para bazaar, Daina dubi, North Garo leadership of Jakma-Jalimpa and Sukapa- hills. Bongepa in search of cultivable land as their lands in Tibet were no longer fertile. ey e Garos have their own traditional brought with them the knowledge of cultivation knowledge of obtaining pigments or colours and all necessary equipments required for from plants and minerals. Variety of pigments – farming.ey settled in Garo hills and practiced red, blue, black, saffron, white etc. is extracted their traditional knowledge and culture. e from bark of a tree, petals of owers and production of lac is one of their traditional plants, fruits and also from minerals like clay knowledge. and rocks. ey procure the dye by using traditional method. Dyes are used to paint Lac is a natural resin produced by various wooden carvings in bachelors dormitory called species of ants. e Garos produced lac from Nokpante or paint memorial post (erected in both cultured and wild extracts. ey culture a memory of the deceased) called Kma member of particular type of red ant locally called ”laha the family. During the British period some of bima” or female lac insect by tying it to mendu the colours extracted from leaves and charcoal plant (Cajanus cajan), pigeon pea or arhar dal. were used as inks to write. Other species of ants as weaver ants also produce lac/resin on various plants. Garos process lac by ere is a strong indication that these using simple traditional method. Lac is used as paints have been used in pre-historic rock adhesive agent in hafting tools and weapons like painting which probably do not survive due to knives, daos, daggers, scythe etc. It is also used as uniquely harsh climatic condition in the region. colouring agent.

34 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

Tiana Arengh, obtained M.A. in History and Archaeology from the Dept. of History and Archaeology, North Eastern Hill University, Tura Campus. She is interested in the indigenous knowledge of the Garos, their history and culture

Monika Kalita, obtained M.A. in History and Archaeology from the Dept. of History and Archaeology, North Eastern Hill University, Tura Campus. As a young scholar, her areas of research interest are Ethno-archaeology, Historical Archaeology and Northeast India Archaeology and Culture.

Mrs. Tiana Arengh Research Scholar Dept. of History and Archaeology North Eastern Hill University, Tura Campus

Ms. Monika Kalita Research Scholar Dept. of History and Archaeology North Eastern Hill University, Tura Campus Email: [email protected]

35 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

XV

Khasi Traditional Technology and Culture: A Probe in the Ri-Bhoi Area

Benora Batemon Masharing

he area of Ri-Bhoi in Meghalaya, is lined up, dyed in traditional natural colours. unique in character, its geo-political e paper will highlight the method of Tposition on the trade routes to Assam procuring available raw materials, the required and Kupli Valley, migration and settlement of means for extraction of colours and different various tribes such as the Karbis, Lalungs and activities involved in the complete process. is others make it signicant. ese tribes brought paper will also discuss the purpose of producing along with them their own technology and colour, the labour group associated with the culture. It is perhaps one of the best areas, in its mentioned art and the involved gender and own right to study both evolution and diffusion economic dimensions. of technology. ough the impact of modernisation cannot be denied, the Benora Batemon Masharing is an Assistant continuation of traditional knowledge system Professor in Government College, Tura, West Garo and use of indigenous resources are still Hills. She is also pursuing her doctoral research on practiced in and around the Ri- Bhoi area. Iron in Khasi-Jaintia Society. She has participated and presented papers related to her research in It is in this background that this paper several regional and national seminars. Some of her focuses on some pre-Colonial techno-cultural research papers are published in seminar practices that are still in practice. e main proceedings. economic activity is agriculture, both slash and burn and wet cultivations are undertaken. Another such practice is extraction of colour Ms. Benora Batemon Masharing from natural resources, dyeing of clothes and Assistant Professor weaving, which forms the traditional textile Dept. of History industry. Tura Government College West Garo Hills, Meghalaya Email: [email protected] e geographical location and climatic condition favour the development of textile industry which is well known among the Khasi, like the Khasi traditional silk products such as Ki Jain Ryndia or Ryndia clothes known as ryndia tlem, ryndia thohsaw, ryndia thoh saw thoh stem, ryndia khyrwang, etc. ese are made from threads after they are stretched and

36 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

XVI

Tattoo Culture among the Nagas of Nagaland with Special Reference to Ao Nagas

Yilobemo Sangma

attoos have been related to the disappeared gradually. Earlier research works primordial human tendency of done by colonial researchers, British Texpression. is ancient practice of administrators, European anthropologists and marking, designs and patterns on human skin the like, only provides an overview of the general has been an intrinsic art form amongst many tattooing culture. e present paper therefore cultures around the world. Among the Nagas, intends to focus on an in-depth study of the tattooing on the face and body was practiced as a Tattoo culture in Nagaland with special form of body adornment and was also associated reference to the Ao- Naga tribe. It also proposes with head hunting. Tattooing was practiced by to provide facts on the role of tattoos to help certain Naga tribes like Konyak, Ao, Phom, reconstruct the past history and preserve the rich Yimchungrü, Chang, Sangtam and tattoo traditions. Khiamniungan prior to Christianity. YilobemoSangma is a Ph.D. Research Scholar in e Ao Nagas are generally classied the Dept. of History and Archaeology in Nagaland into three major language groups viz, Chungli, University. Mongsen and Changki. Similar to the other Naga tribes, the art of tattooing among the Aos was also done as a mark of devotion, identity, Mr. Yilobemo Sangma determination and rite of passage to adulthood. Research Scholar Tattooing among the Aos however, was Dept. of History and Archaeology practiced only among the women folks, which Nagaland University. was generally marked on the chin, chest, arms Email: [email protected] and legs. e chin had four vertical lines, a chain of lozenges on the lower part of the leg and a sort of arrow pattern on the knees. Slight variation in the patterns and its signicance are found among the three language groups.

Although the practice of tattooing was a predominant culture in Naga society, with the advent of Christianity and western education, the practice of tattooing lost its importance and as a result, the values attached to it also

37 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

XVII

e Memorial Stones or Monoliths of Mizoram as Rock Art and its Stipulation

Aten Nungshi

he State of Mizoram hold promises of this arena. However, due to wet season rich archaeological remains in the area throughout the year fungus and lichens have Taround the south eastern region of grown all over the stone, chipping and natural Mizoram, which comprises of Serchhip, erosion is also noticed on most of the Champhai and Lunglei, and have abundance of monoliths. Human vandalism is another major monolithic/memorial stones. ese stones are threat to these archaeological remains of either lled with engravings of animals, birds Mizoram. and human gures or simply plain surface. Many gigantic monoliths have been reported Aten Nungshi, is a passionate archaeologist, who during the last few years of exploration in these loves photography and travelling. She completed areas. ese are very unique archaeological Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology from remains from North-East India. Mizoram hosts Institute of Archaeology, New Delhi. Currently, she some of the best and unique monolithic is working as Assistant Professor of History in engravings in North-East, if not, in India. e Jubilee Memorial College in Nagaland. hero stones of the Western, Central and part of Ms. Aten Nungshi Southern India are unique, yet the monolithic Assistant Professor engraving of Mizoram stands out. e Dept. of History engravings are not excellent. However, whatever Jubilee Memorial College tools the engraver used they try to signify and Mokokchung,Nagaland portray the culture and rich tradition of their Email: [email protected] own. Another interesting feature that signies the uniqueness is that though the megalithic culture is found in Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, yet the monoliths are not carved with images (maybe Nagas does a bit). ough all are located in the same geographical region, Mizoram is ahead in

38 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

XVIII

Wild Animals in the Prehistoric Rock Art of the Malaprabha Basin and Prospect for North-East India Rock Art

R. Mohana

he Malaprabha basin provides a Dr. R. Mohana is a young scholar trained in favourable environment for not prehistoric and rock art studies. He completed Tonly human beings but also his Ph.D. from Deccan College PGRI, Pune animals. Human beings depended on the on rock art of Malaprabha basin, Karnataka. animals for subsistence. e pictures of the He has discovered 76 rock shelters at animals and humans now known from the Malaprabha basin with evidence of rock art in valley are more or less equal in number and 32 shelters. Currently, he is working on the animals are invariably wild. e depiction Tungabhadra valley for his Post Doctoral of animals in rock art is likely to indicate research. He has published 15 research papers human-animal relationship in the past. In in national and regional journals. the region, 35 rock art sites including those noticed and studied by other scholars previously have been studied by the author. Dr. R. Mohana Research Scholar Dept. of Archaeology e author has identied many Deccan College PGRI, wild animals in the pictures e.g. spotted Pune-411006 hyena, fox, wolf, wild boar, deer, porcupine, Email: [email protected] monitor lizard, rabbit, wild mouse, wild cock, and snakes. In the basin, depiction of wild animals is far more in the Prehistoric stage. In the later stages their frequency is very low. On the other hand domestic animals are totally absent in this stage.

39 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

XIX

An Approach to Rock Art Research

B. L. Malla

he present concern of all the rock art graphic art, etc. But the present challenge is to researchers is to explore the 'future of widen the scope of multidisciplinary Tthe past' and to look beyond the duty of involvement, in order to understand human and discovering, protecting, and educating about his epic… that is, our epic. e need is to look archaeological treasures. Everybody is very beyond the context and read the messages. curious to know that in which direction the Because, prehistoric art narrates a piece of life, a discipline of archaeology is going, because the thought or an emotion which has been a part of philosophy of research and technology/science is our tradition. It reveals changes in people's way fast changing. of thinking, feeling, and sentiments, which can express at the same time the wish and the need e concern for exploring new ways and for self-punishment. Such need allows to reduce means for rock art research and for deciphering sense of guilty, by using an expressive mean rock art opened a new chapter in the history of which can be, only formally, compared to the research in prehistoric and tribal art, with new one used by primitive man in ritual and by the scope from the collaboration of archaeology child in concrete logic stage. with anthropology, art history, philosophy, semiotics, psychology, psychiatry, history of It seems that there is an immediate need religion and cultural history. e new to study further psychology of iconicity; and to multidisciplinary approach aims at a global view make distinction between 'mental and artistic of culture and of the very essence of the spirit of representations'. It is believed that the 'abstract our species (Homo sapiens). art' comes from the mind but 'representational art' comes from the natural forms. In the past, the rock art research has coupled archaeology and anthropology with the It is clear from the above discourse that aesthetics and art history. By this approach a the need of an hour is to study palaeoart in common research ground has been established holistic perspective while applying multi- between the prehistoric art and the history of disciplinary approach. It is to be investigated as religion. In this direction investigations have one of the greatest bio-cultural experiments of been made on the signs of myths and humanity. Even we would have to develop a shamanism, logical and cognitive functions as formal grammar and unied theory for revealed by art, and paradigms of semiotic and palaeoart studies.

40 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

Dr. Bansi Lal Malla, an Art Historian, with number of research articles published in specialization in Indian art and cultural studies, is professional journals. He is also in the editorial presently associated with the Indira Gandhi board of some of the important publications. National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi as Project Director. His areas of interest include both classical He has participated in many national and and vernacular traditions. He has been associated international conferences/workshops and has with IGNCA-UNESCO-UNDP project on widely travelled in India, France, Italy, Iran and 'Village India'. China in connection with his eld studies and conferences. He is the author of e Sculptures of Kashmir, Vaisnava Art and Iconography of Currently, Dr. Malla is engaged in Kashmir, Trees in Indian Art, Mythology and documentation, ecological conservation and Folklore, Conservation of Rock Art (ed.), Global ethno-archaeological study of Indian Rock Art and Rock Art (ed.), e World of Rock Art: An also in Himalayan Studies. Overview of the Five Continents (ed.), Rock Art Studies (Volume I): Concept, Methodology, Context, Documentation and Conservation (ed.), Dr. B. L. Malla Rock Art Studies (Volume II): Interpretation Project Director through Multidisciplinary Approaches (ed.), Rock Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts Art of Andhra Pradesh: A New Synthesis by N. 11, Mansingh Road, New Delhi - 110001 Chandramouli (General ed.), Cosmology and Email: [email protected] Cosmic Manifestations: A Study in Shaiva Art and ought of Kashmir, Rock Art of India: Suitable Dating Techniques (ed.), Glimpses of India-China Rock Art (ed.), Silent Rock's An Eloquent Testimony: Rock Art Heritage of Odisha and of a

41 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

XX

Circles and its Variants in Indian Rock Art: A Synthesis

Riza Abbas

ndian Rock Art preserves a huge corpus of Dr. Riza Abbas presently holds the post of Senior iconic and uniconic depictions that are Research Officer (Archaeology), in the Indian Ifound painted and engraved on the walls Numismatic, Historical and Cultural Research and ceilings of thousands of rock art panels. Foundation at IIRNS Campus, Nashik. He Among them, simple circle, circle with a central obtained his Ph.D. from Deccan College in dot, spoked wheel, cross in a circle and spiked Prehistoric Archaeology. He is actively conducting circles are the most commonly occurring research in Archaeo-astonomy of Megaliths, symbols. However there are certain symbols like Prehistory and Rock Art of Rajasthan. labyrinth and concentric circles that are uncommon and are only manifested at some select sites. A synthesis of these symbols suggests Dr. Riza Abbas that these symbols are found associated with Senior Research Officer (Archaeology) some other set of iconic and uniconic symbols. INHCRF, IIRNS Campus, When seen in a context, these symbols hint Anjaneri, Nashik -422213 towards some signicance which is yet to be Email: [email protected] explored and interpreted. e paper aims to explore such context and symbolism of these in Indian rock art with special reference Northeast India scenario.

42 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

XXI

Recent Research on the Rock Art of Jwalapuram, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh

Ravi Korisettar

uring the last decade a series of Prof. Ravi Korisettar is retired Professor and Head painted rock shelters were discovered of Department of History and Archaeology, Din the Kurnool Sub-basin of the late Karnatak University, Dharwad. Prof. Korisettar Proterozoic Cuddapah Basin. e rock art sites is one of the seniormost and renowned are situated in the southwestern part of Andhra archaeologists of India. He has contributed Pradesh. A variety of rock art features have been immensely for prehistory and rock art of documented from rock shelter as well as cave peninsular India. He is the author of several wall surfaces. Two instances of this body of rock research papers published from India and abroad. art have facilitated absolute dating and these At present he is a senior fellow at Dr. V.S. dates suggest the presence of rock art ranging Wakankar Archaeological Research Institute. from late Pleistocene to Mid-Holocene. Although sporadic occurrence of rock art sites Prof. Ravi Korisettar in this region, this systematic survey and Senior Fellow Dr. V.S. Wakankar Archaeological Research Institute documentation has identied more than 200 Email: [email protected] rock shelters. Such intensity of rock art sites was not anticipated. Taking the range of imageries into consideration it has been possible to organise ve phases of rock art sequence. e presentation deals with the nature and verity of prehistoric art in this region.

43 Rock Art of Northeast India: Methodological and Technical Issues

List of Participants

Prof. A. Sundara Mr. Nabaji Deori Prof. V. H. Sonawane Dr. Malsawmliana Prof. R. K. Mohanty Dr. R. Mohana Dr. Dwipen Bezbaruah Dr. Riza Abbas Prof. Ravi Korisettar Dr. P. Binodini Devi Dr. Ditamulü Vasa Ms. Garima akuria Dr. Tiatoshi Jamir Mrs. Tiana Arengh Dr. Sukanya Sharma Ms. Monika Kalita Dr. S. Shyam Singh Ms. Benora B Masharing Dr. Queenbala Marak Ms. Aten Nungshi Mr. Huidrom Suraj Singh Dr. B. L. Malla