Prehistoric Rock Arts at Kudumiyanmalai, Malayadipatti, Aluruttimalai, and Thirumayam, in Pudukkottai District, Tamil nadu.

29^th September 2018.

The rock arts are available in natural shelters and caves and in India, it was estimated they are 5000 to 10000 years old. Some of the shelters have been used for more than 500 years continuously. The rock arts are drawn initially by fingers/hands, and later with brushes. The rock art depicts the lifestyle, day-to-day life, functions, celebrations, etc, of the prehistoric humans who lived in those days.  Wild animals like elephants, tigers, horses, bison, buffalo, birds, and trees,  are also drawn. In some cases, the war scene with their enemy group is drawn. The Colours used in Indian rock art are white, Red, Yellow & Black. The locally available ochre pigments are used. The pigments contain clay, minerals, vegetation leaves, animal fat, etc,.

KUDUMIYANMALAI.

We found it very difficult to locate the rock art on the Kudumi Nathar Temple's backside slope of the hill. Finally succeeded around 18.00 hrs. Red, Yellow, black, and white ochre are used. Flowers, leaves, Buffalo, deer, etc, are drawn. One interesting  rock art was taking the honey from honey honeycomb by climbing one man on the other.

Deer and buffalo fighting

 Taking the honey from honey honeycomb by climbing one man on the other.

MALAYADIPATTI

On the back side of the Sri Vakeswarar Rock Cut Cave temple, there is a small rock sitting on a big boulder, forming a natural cave or a shelter. Prehistoric human beings used this as a shelter. The roof has rock art which is not visible, but a “Keeral” / carving/scratch art of a man can be seen. The man wrapped animal leather over his body with a headgear, which looked different.

ALURUTTIMALAI

The Jain Tirthankara bas-reliefs and beds are carved in this  natural cave shelter, which was once a prehistoric period human beings lived. The Rock art is drawn with white ochre. Human beings are found along with a “human “ shaped image. The meaning is not known.

THIRUMAYAM.

The rock art was drawn on a boulder inside the Thirumayam Fort. The Colour used was mainly red ochre. Here also the images are not clear, but mainly human beings and animals are drawn.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---