Pervinder Singh

Rock Art- The Birth Of An Idea Called Art…

Since childhood I used to wonder how the early Homosapiens used to Live, Communicate, and Relate with each other, how they used to survive and socialize, how they used to pass on their learning’s to their children? Being associated with a field where communication and expression of an emotion, an idea, and a dream is so crucial, I wonder how our ancestors used to do that. The scientists have demonstrated that the genetic lineage between Homosapiens & Apes matches around 96%. This 4% is the gap which has made man, “the master of the earth”. When we share 96% of our genes with apes then what is that differentiate us from them? The key lies in the following characteristics which are far more powerful and intense in the humans, where they score higher than apes:

• Stronger Social bonding
• Stronger Emotional bonding
• Short term memory Vs Long term memory
• Communication & Language
• Recording and passing of information to Gen-next

Of all the above, the last two characteristics had the most impact in evolution of humans, i.e. “the communication skill, recording of the same & passing the information and their history to Generation next”. Rock Art is the earliest written documents of our ancestors. It is the bridge between the Prehistoric and the civilized man. The emergence of artistic activity of the prehistoric humans provides clear-cut evidence that he has the capacity to think & to plan his future needs. Best narrated by Herbert Kuhn, that “Art is the manifestation of culture, the beginning of human existence together”. There paintings herald the coming of the Homosapiens - the modern man. Generally believed that drawings might have been originated accidentally, when a man scribbled playful or natural markings on rock walls suggested an animal to which he added more lines of his own to increase its resemblance. If one observes closely and links with the first drawings of the child today, one can see lot of resemblance in the style of art. The kid would start to draw or doodle out of curiosity and try to draw the images of objects that interest him, in the most simplistic manner of doodling or drawing few lines, which in his mind are symbolic of picture captured by his mind. To our trained eyes that may seems to us like nonsensical scribbles, but for him it is an expression of thought, means of pleasure, way of learning and relating to his immediate surroundings.   

Why prehistoric man spent the time and effort to execute these drawings? Archaeologists suggest that these paintings were not mere wall decorations. They suggest the paintings functioned as a Guide, primarily for hunting and other socio-religious bonding. The rock paintings comprises of various aspects of the life of the communities to which their painters belong. These paintings provide very useful source material for the study of the concerned cultures. These provide us with a firsthand evidence of activity directly connected with the prehistoric ancestors and give us a clue to understand their mental make-up, the environment & the cultural milieu in which he lived.  

Rock art is found around the world. As of today rock art is reported from more than 150 countries and regions across the globe.  The six principle regions recognized for rock art world wide in terms of their concentration and antiquity are: 1. South Western Europe, 2. North Africa, 3. South Africa, 4. Australia, 5. India & 6. Russia, 7. North America. In India the earliest literary evidence of the use of cave or rock shelter by man is at least 3500 years old.  It is found in the Rig-Veda (8/6/28) & reads as “Upahaware firinam samgathe cha nadeenam dhiya vipro ajayate” (Sanskrit Shloka), & can be translated as: “In the mountains caves & at the union of the rivers our Gods came into subsistence post our inspiration”. This Shloka itself highlights the importance of the Evolution of Cave Paintings. The whole idea of God came into existence when men either in fear or in devotion linked him to a supreme power, and established the path to religion and rituals, which in turn tied man into strong social and cultural bonds, hence increasing his dependence as well as strength as group. We can understand the aesthetic development of prehistoric social groups through Rock art or Cave paintings which provide with us information about their society, religion & ritual, their material culture, technology & economy and are sometimes the only evidence of the past existence of certain species of animals, which have since become extinct. The repeated use of rock surface for paintings in different colors styles testifies to the long presence of man in a region.

The main subject of prehistoric rock paintings is game animal & their hunters. Drawings of the post-Mesolithic period generally show domesticated animals, chariots & bullock carts, men riding elephant & horses or engaged in fighting & other activities. It is very difficult to interpret the mind of ancient artists as they painted in caves, but following reasons would probably the reasons for him to paint:

• Defining territory
• Route-markers
• Sacred Spaces
• Natural influences
• Public versus Private space
• Leisure doodling
• Guide to hunt and other activities 

General features and subject matter of paintings in India

Study of rock painting in India can be classified in the following categories on the basis of the subject and contextual details:-

Hunting Scene:- In early age main source of food was hunting of animals. Naturally in Rock shelters most of the paintings are of animal hunting. Red colour painting shown hunting scene of a neelgai.
Paintings of Animals:- is such a subject that can be seen in every rock shelter.  There would be rare rock shelters which have no animal paintings. A painting in white color showing two elephants on one of which a man is riding with holding  spear like weapon.  A mythical animal is shown in lower portion along with human beings
War Scenes, Horse riders and Warriors:-In ancient time war took place according to the situations and the same is painted as subject in caves. A big painting showing a scene of war, soldiers are fighting with swords, infantry soldiers and some are on horses. A bull is also shown in painting between the war. A man holding meat on his shoulder. In corner another red painting shows a man raising sword like weapon on a horse
Birds and Water bound animals A beautiful peacock in white painting
Various forms of dances:-  Dances were organized before or post hunting activity, or at the time of social gathering or for some tradition/ritual.  Dance painting show different uses of dresses and mask.  Besides this human sketches were used to be decorated with weapons and jewellery.  Dance-paintings are found of many types majority of pictures have line formation instead of individual.  In many rock shelters Bull dance paintings are also found. Dancing scene of tribes dancing held each other hands. One person is beating drum/ Drums are usually made of skin of sheeps. This painting shows that these people were having knowledge of drum at that time.  This scene depicts festive atmosphere
Paintings related food and other things:- Paintings on this subject include taming of animals, hunting of animals, drinking of water, picking fruits, ploughing and fishing. Painting of herd ofcows, bulls and buffalo highlighting their way of habitation.
Individual and Group Picturisation A warrior may be highlighting competitive spirit and never say die attitude of human beings.
Bullock Carts:-Bullock-carts, farmers using bulls to plough the field, as  paintings are proof of development in agriculture. Red painting shows a cart in which two persons are lifted holding axes in their hand, cart is pulled by four horses.  There Some animals and persons with weapons in front of cart and cart is followed by another person with five arrows in the hand.
Geometrical beautification:- patterns formed from lines to beautify the surroundings or the habitat. Cross pattern or symbol
X-Ray paintings:-Prehistoric men had the knowledge of human body that is why he was able to drawn such paintings.  Such paintings are found in India and foreign rock shelters also. Pregnant animal with fetus shown in womb
Religious Paintings:-    Religious tradition in the form of painting at rock shelters is very ancient.  It changed with time. People are pulling a bull to sacrifice holding axes in their hand. Sacrificing animals was a matter of worship to make please the god. Bull being ready for sacrificial ritual. People holding axes in their hands highlighting its sacrifice to appear the GOD.
Different types of scripts:- caves in Raisen, Vidisha, are painted with scripture either in Brahmi or Devnagri script. The same is true for the origin of all ancient form of scripts across the world.