10,000-Year-Old Neolithic Rock Art Discovered in Yelagiri Hills, Tamil Nadu
- Siddhi Deshmukhe
- Jun 28
- 2 min read
Prehistoric rock art sites serve as an invaluable portal to the past. Preserving remnants of our ancestors, they help us reconstruct and understand how human life was thousands of years ago. Bhimbetka, Adamgarh, and Kupgal are a few of the most famous prehistoric rock art sites in India. A potential addition to this list is the recently discovered cave paintings found in the Yelagiri Hills, Tamil Nadu.
The collection of rock paintings in a cave located about 1,000 ft above ground level, near Reddiyur Village on the Yelagiri Hills, Tamil Nadu, promises to be a landmark discovery. The first of its kind in the district, the site is believed to be a Neolithic one, dating between 10,000 and 3,000 BCE. The style and characteristics of the paintings bear a striking resemblance to known Neolithic drawings.
The survey was led by Dr. A. Prabhu, a professor at Sacred Heart College, along with V. Radhakrishan and Muthamizvendan from the conservation centre, with the permission of the district forest department. Notably, this survey was initiated after local residents alerted scholars from Sacred Heart College to unusual markings they had found in a natural cave near Reddiyur.
These rock paintings are found within a naturally formed cave, approximately 100 square metres—large enough to shelter about 50 people, indicating it might have housed a community of hunter-gatherers. Three major groups of paintings are found at the cave’s entrance, comprising about 80 anthropomorphic and animal figures painted in a white substance.
The paintings, as interpreted by Dr. Prabhu, consist of people mounted on animals and fighting with weapons; two figures with children on their hips during a battle; and a man attacking a leopard with a weapon. Other figures include people dancing, probably in a victory celebration, and a tribal leader on a palanquin. Such depictions offer an insight into the social and ritual life of the early inhabitants.
The cave appears not only to be a habitation site but also to have some ritualistic significance, given its elevated position and the nature of the paintings.
Concerns over vandalism and the need for proper conservation measures arise. Dr. Prabhu urged authorities to take immediate action for the protection and preservation of the site.
"This is the first time such a significant cluster of cave paintings has been discovered in the district," Professor Prabhu noted, emphasizing the importance of the find. This discovery is expected to attract the attention of archaeologists and provide new insight and a deeper understanding of prehistoric settlements in South India.
Sources:
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Keywords:
Neolithic rock art
Yelagiri Hills cave paintings
Tamil Nadu archaeology
Prehistoric sites in India
Ancient rock art
10,000-year-old paintings
What do the Yelagiri cave paintings depict?
Oldest rock art found in Tamil Nadu
Conservation of prehistoric sites in India
New archaeological discoveries in Tamil Nadu
Life in Neolithic South India
Dr. A. Prabhu discovery
Neolithic art South India
Hunter-gatherer society
Indian archaeology news
Reddiyur Village cave
Ancient Indian history
Some photos shared on websites, are not our findings. Especially social media., They are incorrect images. But our message is that the age of the Mangalam paintings may be around 5000 (5000-10000). It is true that it could be anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 years, and we have provided a starting point for our research. Until this is reviewed and formally published, five thousand is the correct number. Do not compare the real news with such news that you browse on Facebook. Those who deny it, please post the correct age. It is immoral to say that there is no general rule. It is like publishing the work of those who have taken great effort and discovered it. The professor…