Pre-historic rock paintings found in Berinag sub-division of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand
Pre-historic rock paintings found in Berinag sub-division of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Jan 18
A pre-historic cave has been found in Berinag sub-division of Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand in which rock paining of 11 human figures including men and women have been depicted.
“The cave is significant from rock paintings points of view as these the rock paintings seems to be over 4 to 6 thousand years old, simultaneous with those at Lakhu Udiyar pre-historic caves near Almora discovered in the year 1965,” said Chandra Singh Chauhan, Regional Archaeological Officer at Almora.
Chauhan said that he has received photos of rock paintings depicted at walls of newly discovered cave and he will visit the cave soon to gather more information.
The cave has been discovered by Tarun Mehra, a young entrepreneur working in the sphere of archaeology and tourism.”When we went inside the cave after discovering it on a hill near PG College, Berinag, we were surprised by seeing these rock paintings carved on the wall of rock with various colours,” said Tarun Mehra.
According to Mehra, a cup mark has also been found inside the cave, that could be reached by climbing the rock with the help of rope some 20 feet upwards. A wild animal has also been depicted below the paintings of 11 men and women on the wall.”The presence of wide space inside the cave, also indicated that pre human groups used the cave as their habitation,” said Mehra.
The Regional Archaeological Officer said that the presence of rock painting inside these pre historic caves is reflecting that our ancestors in Himalayan region, have shifted inside caves from trees, some 6000 years ago, on the next stage of their development.”It is one of the stage of 65000 years of human development from trees to caves, “said the Regional Archaeological officer.
This is first such cave with rock painting in Pithoragarh district.”We have till today discovered 9 such caves in Almora, one in Nainital and three in Garhwal region, that points towards strong presence of pre- historic human in this part of Himalayan region,” said Chandra Singh Chauhan, Regional Archaeological Officer in Almora.
