17th
March 2019.
It
was a long wish to see this prehistoric Mesolithic period ( 8000 BCE to 2700 BCE ),
rock art in a naturally formed rock shelter at Porivarai near Karikkaiyur in
Nilgiris District. The guides who led us showed the boundary line of Nilgiris
District and Erode District and pointed out that Porivarai is in Erode
District ( Kongu Nadu ). This visit was nicely organized by Mr Gireesh and Mr Kumaravel with
good food and transport. Thanks to both of them and the participants.
We,
15 heritage enthusiasts started in a van from Coimbatore and reached Sholurmattam near
Kotagiri. The Karikkaiyur is about 15 KM from there. Since the road from
Sholurmattam was very bad, we hired two Jeeps/ Vans and reached Karikkaiyur.
Karikkaiyur is dominated by the Irula, a hill tribe community. From the
Karikkaiyur village, the local boys guided us to reach the spot, which is about 3.5
KM. The path was narrow with thorny
bushes on both sides. The slopes are slippery due to the tree leaves on footpaths. Also, it was frightening to see the elephant’s dung on the
path. Finally reached the spot.
The
spot was identified in the year 2004 by Mr G Chandrasekaran and K T
Gandhirajan. The rock shelter is about
300 feet high and 500 feet long facing east. Honeycombs are hanging from the
top. The Shelter’s entrance is narrow
and a deep valley in front, which makes this shelter a secure place. It can
easily accommodate 100 to 150 people. The Rock arts are drawn from about 3
feet to 20 feet high. What sort of arrangement has been made to draw above 8
feet is not known. The Rock arts are done during different periods by different artists. There are more than 500 images drawn of which few of them are eroded due to weather
& Climate. These arts are drawn with white ochre and a few are colored with
kavi on the white ochre. Kavi-colored
arts are believed to be of the earlier period.
The
images are from animals to Humans. A series of Bulls, taming and domestication
of bulls & wild animals, Deer, Elephants, domestic fowl, men riding on the
animals, men carrying a boar after hunting, war scenes, Training for the war, a
mongoose and snake fight, cattle herds with calf. Some of the group arts represent
the celebration of functions by playing musical instruments, animals hunting for food, fighting scenes, and cattle herds. The painter remembers the scenes that he had seen/ witnessed and reproduced in the form of rock art. Group
paintings are more compared to the individual paintings.
Celebration with the playing of drum
The
prehistoric arts give us information on Social & economic activities, the
way of their life, ideology, Culture, environmental context, the stages of
changes in the activities of human beings, and the materials & tools used. It
was also told that a group of people with a bull indicates that, the recent
period game of “Jallikattu” was played about 5000 years before itself.
It is sad to notice that recent paintings with names were done by the miscreants, which spoils the prehistoric paintings.
It is sad to notice that recent paintings with names were done by the miscreants, which spoils the prehistoric paintings.
HOW TO REACH:
The
Site Porivarai is about 3.5 KM from Karikkaiyur, which is about is about 40 KM from Kotagiri and 15 KM from
Sholurmattam. Bus facility is available from Sholurmattam. Since the road is too bad, a Jeep / Van may be hired from
Sholurmattam.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Mr. Kirushnamurthy may be contacted through his mobile for help and guidance on 904749699
and 9487342108.
It is possible that members of the tribes were recruited into the royal armies and became acquainted with army dress. Since they are standing in a straight line, the war might have taken in plains.
Cattle herd moving for grazing
a cattle with its calf
Celebrating the boar hunting
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
Very ancient place to visit with perilous Trekking trail a perfect treat for historian cum adventure enthusiast.Thank you for introducing this wonderful place to us.
ReplyDeleteThanks Doctor
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