Newly Discovered Rock Art Sites in the Malaprabha Basin ... · Newly Discovered Rock Art Sites in the Malaprabha Basin, North Karnataka: A Report Mohana R.1, Sushama G. Deo1 and A

Newly Discovered Rock Art Sites in the Malaprabha

Basin, North Karnataka: A Report

Mohana R.1, Sushama G. Deo1 and A. Sundara2

1. Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Deccan College

Post Graduate and Research Institute, Deemed to be University, Pune – 411 006,

Maharashtra, India (Email: [email protected]; [email protected]) 2. The Mythic Society, Bangalore – 560 001, Karnataka, India (Email:

[email protected])

Received: 19 July 2017; Revised: 03 September 2017; Accepted: 23 October 2017

Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5 (2017): 883‐929

Abstract: Early research on rock art in the Malaprabha basin began in the last quarter of the 20th

century. Wakankar explored Bādāmi, Tatakoti, Sidla Phaḍi and Ramgudiwar in 1976. This was followed by Sundara, Yashodhar Mathpal and Neumayer located painted shelters in Are Guḍḍa, Hire Guḍḍa abd Aihole region. They are found in the area between the famous Chalukyan art centres of Bādāmi and

Paṭṭadakallu. The near past the first author carried out field survey in the Lower Malaprabha valley as part of his doctoral programe during 2011‐2015. The intensive and systematically comprehensive field

work has resulted in the discovery of 87 localities in 32 rock art sites. The art include geometric designs or

pattern, Prehistoric ‘Badami Style of Human Figures’, human figures, miniature paintings, birds, wild

animals like boar, deer, antelope, hyena, rhinoceros, dog etc.

Keywords: Rock Art, Badami, Malaprabha, Karnataka, Engravings, Elevation,

Orientation

Introduction: Background of the Research 1856 CE is a remarkable year revealing the visual art of distinction of our ancestors in a

cave at Almora (Uttarkhand) in India around by Henwood (1856). This happened two

decades before the discovery of rock art and initiation of research in Western Europe in

the year 1879 CE. Since then rock art have been discovered and studied for the last 150

years. The year 1867 would remain as a milestone in the history of Indian rock research

mainly because Archibald C. Carlleyle , the first assistant in the Archaeological Survey

of India who under Alexander Cunningham discovered rock paintings along with

microliths near Sohangighaṭ in the Kaimur range, Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh.

Carlleyle has not published any account of his discoveries apart from his field notes

left with his friend Rev. Reginald Gatty. Those notes were later published by Smith in

1906. By the same time there was another discovery and systematic survey of rock‐art

sites in Mirzapur region by Cockburn (1883, 1989). In South India, initial investigation

ISSN 2347 – 5463Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5: 2017

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began around 1842 by Capt. Newbold, in and around Kappagallu but he was silent

about those pictures (Foote 1916). However, the first report on the petroglyphs at

Kappagallu seems to have been made known by F. Fawcett in 1892, in the Asiatic

Quarterly Review. He was also discovered Edkal cave in Kerala in 1901. Foote (1916)

also briefly addressed the Kappagallu rock art in his book on The Foote Collection of

Indian Prehistoruic and Photohistoric Antiqueties, Notes on their Ages and Distributions. In

the early decades of the twentieth century mostly officers of the Geology, Archaeology

Departments and even an individual here and there and they would report them in

reports as well as journals.

It is only with the incomparably extensive, sustainable and indomitable work in 1957

by Wakankar (1957) that the subject of rock art came prominently to limelight as a

branch of study worth pursuing for the better understanding of the human thinking of

the past and their society. He worked intensively in the Bhimbetka and surveyed

around 700 shelters of them 300 with paintings. His Ph. D. thesis entitled Rock Paintings

of India in 1973 from Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune was

on these investigations and he also discovered most of the sites in many parts of India.

Later, it followed by many scholars of the respective regions. In course of site more

than 6000 rock art cave/shelters have been reported from Indian subcontinent.

In Karnataka, it was undoubtedly Fred Fawcett (1892) was the first at the instance in

Kappagallu‐Sanganakal area near Ballari in 1890s. Munn (1915, 1994, 1935) a British

officer in 1915 amidst an extensive megalithic burial site dotted with about three

hundred port‐hole chambers, three painted rock art shelters in the terraces of extensive

granite hill ranges with countless natural caves and rock shelters near Hire Benkal.

Krishna (1931) recorded an engraving of a tiger in Chandravalli in his explorations in

late 1920s. R. S. Panchamukhifound an engraving of a pair of bulls facing each other on

vertical side of a sandstone hill in Kullolli.

In early 1950s Allchins couples (19in the course of their field study of the

archaeological remains in the region of the Raichur doab. Allchin (1960) and Sundara

(1974, 1978, 1984) threw light on rock art sites like Sivapura, Bilebhavi, Ānegundi, Emi

Guḍḍa and at Piklihaḷ (with the kind assistance of the Director of Archaeology for

Hyderabad, Dr. P. Sreenivasachar, he did a small excavation). Here numbers of

paintings and bruising were found in association with Neolithic evidence (Gordon and

Allchin 1955; Gordon 1951, 1958).

Raymond and Bridget Allchin (1994‐95) conducted a detail study of Maski and Piklihaḷ rock art sites. Wakankar (Wakankar and Brooks 1976) brought to light a few paintings

in Badami. Similarly Nagaraja Rao (1964) noticed paintings of a row of humans hand in

hand engaged in folk dance in Tekkalkota. Yashodhar Mathpal and Neumayer located

painted shelters in Are Guḍḍa and Hire Guḍḍa by 1978. Little later by Neumayer (1983,

1993, 2010). Since 1961 Sundara (1994) has been reporting painted caves and shelters

especially in Anegondi‐Hire Benkal area (1987), Badmi‐Aihole area; Bellary‐Hospet

Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

885

area, Billamarayanagudda (1985), Chitradurga‐Chandravalli‐Jeṭṭinga Rāmēśvara area near Brahmagiri; Ankola coastal Karnataka and studied them along with the already

known sites during his frequent field explorations for varied purposes in North

Karnataka. Lakshman Telagavi (2004, 2006) has been noticing some rock art sites here

and there as for instance in Hampi region and Middle Vedavati (Hagari) basin.

Sharana Basappa Kolkar has been mainly on the rock paintings in Hire Benkal area, his

Ph. D. thesis and later he published a monograph in Kannada entitled Shilayugada

Gavichithragalu (Prehistoric Paintings: In Kannada).

In coastal Karnataka Gururaj Bhat (1975) and Vasanta Shetty (1983) were probably the

first to report the existence of rock engravings at Gavali. Mention should be made of

an important discovery of a rock engraving panel in Sonda by Raghunath Bhat. Many

more sites are being discovered since then. Particular mention should be made about

the discovery an extensive rock engraving site in Buddhana Jeddu, Basrur, Mandarti

and Subrahmanya and further exploration in known sites e.g. Gavali, Bole, Sonda from

2009 and onwards by Murugeshi and his team (2014). And in January 2011, they have

discovered isolated engravings at Mandarti and Subrhmanya.

The most recent systematic and full‐fledged exploration of rock art sites in the

Malaprabha basin is being carried out by the first author (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and

2017) as a part of his Ph.D. research: Reading Rock Art: Interpreting Temporal and

Geographic Variability in the Middle Krishna Basin: Karnataka in the Deccan College Post

Graduate and Research Institute, Pune. He has noticed for the first time some more

sites in the region. Many of them are of the Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic period

(Mohana 2013, 2014a, 2014b, 2014c, 2016, 2016a; Mohana and Hemant 2015).

This paper presents newly discovered rock art sites with picture and other associated

cultural materials in the Lower Malaprabha valley by the first author (2015a) as part of

his Ph.D. programme. The explored sites are 32 sites; all the sites have 87 localities with

pictures (Figures 1 and 2). Among the 32 sites 17 sites are discovered by the first author

and the remaining are previously known.

Locality and Pictures During the field investigation, field data have been documented

as thoroughly as possible, such as detailed description of the sites (i.e.

shelters/cliff/boulders/bedrrock with pictures) e.g. location, local name of the particular

shelter or boulder, geo coordinates (GPS), elevation from AMSL, elevation of the

shelter from the natural surface, dimension of the each shelter, floor, orientation,

depiction of the picture: minimum hight from the floor of the particular locality (e.g.

wall, ceiling, boulder, bedrock), type i.e. pictograph and petroglyph, evidence of

pounding, present condition of the shelters.

During the field survey are documented not only rock art sites but also archaeological

remains in the vicinity of the rock art sites. The result of this was the exposure of

Mesolithic site, Megalithic sites of different types i.e. dolmen, stone circle etc.

inscriptions either engraved or painted of early Badami Chalukyan period and hero


886

stones. The natural resourse of ancient water body e.g. river, streams, nala, pot holes of

the earch of the locality of every site and proximity of the water body are noted. In last

column of the tabulated shelters are mentioned published reference, local information

and also new discoveries.

Figure 1: Rock Art Localities in the Lower Malaprabha Basin

Figure 2: Rock art Sites in Lower Malaprabha Basin (After Mohana and Dalavi 2015)

Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

887

Googlaḍi (GLD) Googlaḍi (15° 57ʹ 467ʺN ‐ 75° 34ʹ 779ʺE: Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 616 m) is a hillock, located

1 km to the northwest of village Mushṭigeri (Figures 3 and 4, Table 1). The ground is composed of gravel boulders and covered with vegetation (Mohana 2015a).

Figure 3: Genera view of Googlaḍi site

Table 1: Details of the Cliff, GLD – 1

a. Location : In the hill which is located

on the right of curve of the

bullock cart road.

b. Local Name : Googladi

c. Elevation (AMSL) : 616 m

d. Elevation from the natural

ground

: 50 m

e. Orientation : South

f. Dimension : 30 x 2 x 5 m

g. Floor : Gravel boulder with soil and scattered

vegetation

h. Depiction of pictures : On the wall: 3 m above the surface

i. Type : Pictograph

j. Evidence of pounding : No

k. Present condition : Seepage

Archaeological Remains in

the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Seasonal Springs


888

Figure 4: Large wild boar in silhouette and a human figure with horizontally

stretched hands

Pillugunḍu (PLG) Pillugunḍu (15⁰ 56ʹ 490ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 35ʹ 835ʺE: Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 622‐625 m) is located 3

km to the northeast of Karaḍi Guḍḍa SN and to the northwest of Ramdevrugunḍu, are many rock shelters. The rock formation is oriented towards northwest‐southeast

(Figures 5‐10 and Tables 2‐5). The rock shelters are within the agricultural land (survey

no. 96/1), owned by Shri Mahadevappa Hanumappa Talvar. This region is an open

area (plain), with scattered vegetation. There are six rock shelters, out of which four are

having paintings. The site was informed by Shri. Barawali (Badami) in early 2012

(Mohana 2013, 2017b).

Figure 5: Panoramic View of the Pillugunḍu

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889

Figure 6: Pictures of two periods; Prehistoric e.g. wild animals in lower part and

Historical battle scene

Table 2: Details of the Shelter: PLG‐1

a. Location : At the entrance of the rock

boulder complex.

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 2 m

e. Orientation : East

f. Dimension : 5 x 3 x 2.2 m

g. Floor : Rocky surface

h. Depiction of pictures : On the wall and the ceiling: 0.5 m above the

surface (Figures 6 and 7)





the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Three springs; beneath the rock to the

southeast; Karyamani Ḍoṇe to northeast about 500 m; Uchikina Ḍoṇe a perennial spring towards NW about 700 m.


890

Figure 7: A horse rider is with cudgel in right hand and peculiar headgear (a); Two

warriors stands with sword, bow and short arrow (b); Animal in vertical (c)

Table 3: Details of the Shelter, PLG‐2

a. Location : The shelter is formed by a

huge boulder which is

resting to the west of PLG‐1.

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 2 m

e. Orientation : Northeast

f. Dimension : 4.5 x 2.3 x 1.6 m


h. Depiction of pictures : On the wall: 0.6 m above the surface



k. Present condition : High seepage


the Vicinity

: Not found


southeast; Karyamani Ḍoṇe to northeast about 500 m; Uchikina Ḍoṇe a perennial spring towards NW about 700 m. Proximity to water

‐ 15–700 m.

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891

Figure 8: An abstract human figure and a deity (a); An animal with short (b); A deer

raised head upwards and stripes on the body (c).

Table 4: Details of the Shelter, PLG‐3

Figure 9: Three human figures are in different style and probably an animal show in

lines (a); A dog (b); Antelope (c).

a. Location : Southwest of PLG‐2 about

10 m away.

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 1.2 m

e. Orientation : West

f. Dimension : 3 x 5 x 2 m



surface





the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : A seasonal spring at the foot of a hillock to the

southeast. Proximity to water ‐ 15 m.


892

Table 5: Details of the Cliff, PLG‐4

Figure 10: Two humans in unusual type (a), Animals and some intricate designs (b).

a. Location : 120 m to the north of PLG‐1.

This shelter is dedicated to

the local deity known as

Paḍiyamma. Around the

goddess some designs are

depicted by local people.

b. Local Name : Paḍiyamma phaḍi



ground

: 3.2 m


f. Dimension : 3 x 2.8 x 1.6 m





k. Present condition : Damaged by natural factors


the Vicinity

: Not found


southeast; Karyamani Ḍoṇe to northeast about 500 m; Uchikina Ḍoṇe a perennial spring towards NW about 700 m. Proximity to water

‐ 15–700 m

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893

Tāyyavva Phaḍi (TYP) In Karaḍi Guḍḍa SN, site is locally known as Tāyyavva Phaḍi (15⁰ 59ʹ 740ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 42ʹ 590ʺE: Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 612 m) is located to the right side of the Muttalageri‐

Nilagunda road. The petroglyphs (Figure 11 and Table 6) are on the cliff of outer

surface, they are reachable from ground/earth surface. It is an isolated huge rock

boulder site. On this cliff, base boulders have a good number of engravings (Figure 11)

(Mohana 2015a).

Figure 11: Humped bull (Nandi) in couchant position (a); Bhikshaṭana Mῡrhty (icon) and Shivalingas.(b); A human is holding a sword in right hand and the other hand is

resting on his waist (c); Incarnation of Vishnu (d); Naked women and Shivalinga (e).

Table 6: Details of the Cliff, TYP‐1

a. Location : In the vicinity of the hill.

Villagers worship the sculpture

of goddess Tāyyavva, placed

against the boulder of the

eastern side. Petroglyphs are not

well preserved due to the ritual

practices and they have painted

on the pictures of the boulder.


894

Rāmadēvrugundu (RDG) Rāmadēvrugundu (15⁰ 56ʹ 235ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 35ʹ 537ʺE : Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 621 m) is located

2 km east of the Karaḍi Guḍḍa SN and 2 km away from southeast of Pillugunḍu rock shelter site (Figures 12‐13, Table 7). It is an isolated rock huge boulder site surrounded

by an agricultural barren land. There are 3 huge boulders, locally known as

Rāmadēvrugunḍu,Akkava phaḍi and Tangyava phaḍi. In that Tangyava phaḍi has a historical painting in white and Rāmadēvrugundu has Badami Chalukyan Kannada

Inscription (Mohana 2015a).

Figure 12: Panoramic View of Ramdevrugundu

b. Local Name : Tāyyavva phaḍi



ground

: On the surface

e. Orientation : North

f. Dimension : 11 x 0.2 x 7 m

g. Floor : Field boulders and soil


i. Type : Petroglyph


k. Present condition : Lime wash on the wall


the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Huligavi Ḍoṇe (a seasonal spring). Proximity to

water ‐ 150 m to NE.

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895

Figure 13: A warrior with a sword and shield (The inscription is found nearby the

painting. It may throw welcome light and some information of the Badami

Chalukyan period).

Table 7: Details of the Shelter, RDG‐1

a. Location : To the north of the huge

boulder and locally known

as Tangyavva phaḍi and 2 km from the south of

Pillugunḍu.

b. Local Name : Tangyava phaḍi



ground

: On the surface




896

Horagina Durgamma Gudi (HDG) It is located 100 m away, opposite of Horagina Durgamma Guḍi in Bādāmi (Mohana

2015a, 2015b) (Figures 14‐16; Table 8).

Figure 14: General View of Horagina Durgamma Gudi

Table 8: Details of the Shelter, HDG‐1

g. Floor : Field boulders and soil




k. Present condition : Good


the Vicinity

: Rāmadēvrugunḍu, the main boulder bears

Badami Chalukyan inscription in the east

face.

Natural Resources : A seasonal spring on the main boulder i.e. in

front of the Rāmadēvru shrine and Nichhakina

Ḍoṇe about 600 m to the northeast. Proximity

to water ‐ 30–600 m.

a. Location : The cliff in the hill series of

Ranganatha Guḍḍa.

b. Local Name : ‐

c. Elevation (AMSL) : ‐

Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

897

Figure 15: Wild male boar with geometrical designs on the body, in bichrome

Figure 16: Animals i.e. giraffe (?) and headless wild boar (?) and wag design

superimposed on the animals. (a); A human with hands let down and an intricate

design (b); A nude human in horizontal posture, the right hand let down and left

angularly raised up (c).


ground

: 20 m









the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Springs nearby the Ranganātha temple.

Proximity to water ‐ 500 m.


898

Bādāmi ASI Museum Complex (BDMM) Bādāmi ASI Museum Complex (15⁰ 55ʹ 294ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 41ʹ 060ʺE: Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 617‐

618 m) is located half km southeast of Bādāmi. There are many gorges and cannons

around the complex. In the gorges near the Museum, are many petroglyphs (Figures 1 ‐

20, Tables 9‐10) (Mohana 2015a, 2017).

Figure 17: Two humans and a pillar and conch (a); Two humans i.e. the lower one

having a stick in the hand and with cocks and a (duck) nearby a pot (b); A human head

at the top and an animal possibly tiger (c); A woman (a deity?) holds a triśῡla in the

right hand and there are short parallel vertical (d); A peacock with three heads (e); An

with overwritten Bādāmi Chalukyan inscription (f); A bas‐relief of elephant ‐bull (gaja‐

vrishabha), an artistic motif of the Chalukyan period (g).

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899

Table 9: Details of the Shelter: BDMM‐1

Table 10: Details of the Shelter, BDMM‐2

a. Location : 150 m northwest of the ASI

museum.

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 50 m



g. Floor : Covered with vegetation



j. Evidence of pounding : Six pounding pits



the Vicinity

: Bādāmi Chalukyan Kannada inscriptions.

Natural Resources : Agastya thirthā. . Proximity to water ‐120 m

distance

a. Location : 150 m west of BDMM‐1

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 50 m


f. Dimension : 3.5 x 1.5 x 2 m

g. Floor : Composed of field boulders and soil

h. Depiction of pictures : 1.5 m on the wall


j. Evidence of pounding : Three pounding pits



900

Figure 18: Miniature human figures in all eleven and a dog (a); Enigmatic designs

comprising dots (b); Design like parallel lines (c‐d)

Figure 19: Engraved Fish on the Cliff Wall


the Vicinity

: Early Medieval pottery shreds found near by

the rock shelter.

Natural Resources : Agastya thirthā. . Proximity to water ‐120 m

distance

Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

901

Figure 20: An isolated cupule on the flight of steps from the ASI museum

Ramthirthā (RTT) Ramthirtha (15⁰ 55ʹ 590ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 42ʹ 118ʺE to 15⁰ 55ʹ 957ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 42ʹ 104ʺE : Elevation

(AMSL) ‐ 595–598 m) rock art site is located 3 km northeast of Bādāmi town and 500 m

from the Siti Ḍoṇe hill series. The two series face each other and are separated by

agricultural fields. This region is an open area (plain) in between the two hill ranges

with Mango trees, nilgiris and shrubs. There are many rock shelters but among them

two shelters are having paintings (Figures 21‐24, Tables 11‐12) (Mohana 2015a, 2017a).

Figure 21: General View of the Ramthirtha Site


902

Table 11: Details of the Shelter, RTT‐1

Figure 22: Three animals in red‐ochre and human figure in white and a design (a);

Two incomplete headless animals (b)

a. Location : About 1km to northwest of

Siti Ḍoṇe (see Siti Ḍoṇe site).

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 50 m



g. Floor : Soil and field boulders


surface.





the Vicinity

: Ramthirtha is on the top of these two shelters

in between, there are six structural evidences

built out of roughly dressed small stone slabs

with the packing of small stones wherever

necessary. The structural complex, which is

roughly circular on plan.

These structures show residual and temple

spatial characteristics which are influenced by

the megaliths in terms of usage of huge

capstones on 5 structures and dressed stone

slabs arranged like a megalith dolmen.

Natural Resources : Ramthirtha. . Proximity to water –500 m.

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903

Table 12: Details of the Cliff, RTT‐2

Figure 23: An identified animal, a picture what looks like a bird and another figure

as if flying at the top

a. Location : Opposite to Siti Ḍoṇe painted rock shelter about

800 m.

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 30 m

e. Orientation : Northeast



h. Depiction of pictures : On the wall: 1.8 m above the surface surface.



k. Present condition : seepage


the Vicinity

: Some Medieval pottery shred is noticed.

Natural Resources : Ramthirtha to the northwest and Siti Ḍoṇe to the southeast. Proximity to water –500 m.


904

Figure 24: Negative impression of footprints in the Ramthirtha Megalithic complex

Mangalūru Gudda (MGG) The hillock (15° 54ʹ 113ʺN ‐ 75° 45ʹ 192ʺE to 15° 54ʹ 404ʺN ‐ 75° 45ʹ 666ʺE: Elevation

(AMSL) ‐ 543‐559 m) is on the right bank of the Malaprabha river and to the south of

Mangaḷῡru village about 2 km and 700 m southeast of Shivayoga Mandira arch with a

gigantic Nandi (bull) statue (Figures 25‐27, Tables 13‐14) (Mohana 2015a, 2017a).

Figure 25: Panoramic View of the Manglur Gudda

Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

905

Table 13: Details of the Shelter, MGG‐1

Figure 26: Human pictures in line drawing

Table 14: Details of the Shelter, MGG‐2

a. Location : On the left of Mangaḷῡru ‐ Hire Nasbi road, 300 m

away.

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 90 m









the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : The Malaprabha river (on the right bank).

Proximity to water –300 m

a. Location : On right side of the

Mangaḷῡru ‐ Hosuru road. It

is at a great height in that

hill series. It is covered with

dense vegetation around the

shelter.

b. Local Name : ‐


906

Figure 27: Unidentified designs (a); A human with legs stretched apart and hands

bent downward and upward, of X‐style (b)

Huligemma Kolla (HMK) Huligemma Kolla (15⁰ 58ʹ 339ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 46ʹ 533ʺE : Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 574 m) is located

about 4 km north of B.N Jālihaḷḷa village and to the right foothill of Huligemma (the village deity) temple. On the vertical side of a large rectangular rock wall there is a

carving of lord Hanumān. To the left of the deity there are petroglyphs (Mohana 2015a,

2017a). (Figures 28‐31, Tables 15‐16).



ground

: 120 m




h. Depiction of pictures : On the ceiling: 1.5 m above the surface



k. Present condition : Disturbed by the forest surveyors


the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : The Malaprabha river. Proximity to water –

500 m

Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

907

Figure 28: Panoramic view of the Huligemma Kolla

Figure 29: A group of animal, twelve in number of different kinds facing rightwards.

(Of the three, one deer seems to be pregnant; two of bison have designs if on the

body. With regard to hyena, it may be noted the depiction of the animal in the rock

art is very, very rare).

Table 15: Details of the Cliff, MK 1

a. Location : To the right of entrance of

Huligemma temple.

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 35 m


908

Figure 30: Rhombus and geometrical designs (a); An animal with short tail curved

upwards, stripes on the body, facing rightwards (b); Fish with fins in vertical

posture (c).

e. Orientation : Southeast


g. Floor : Covered with soil and vegetation






the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Huligemma Koḷḷa . Proximity to water – 50 m

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909

Figure 31: Hermaphrodite (a); Elephant is in moving posture (b); Wild dog (c);

Coalesced bull and elephant is superimposed (d).

Table 16: Details of the Boulder, HMK‐2

a. Location : To the right of entrance of

Huligemma temple.

b. Local Name : Hanumappa phaḍi



ground

: On the surface


f. Dimension : 9.5 x 80° x 2 m

g. Floor : Soil

h. Depiction of pictures : On the boulder: 1 m above the surface





the Vicinity

: Stylistically the Hanuman image is of modern

period. On the right bank of the stream, there is

a hero‐stone on a huge boulder facing east,


910

Kendur Kere Gondi (KKG) Kendur Kere Gondi (15⁰ 58ʹ 10.4ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 43ʹ 52.8ʺE : Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 582–627 m) is

situated 2.5 km northeast of Kendur on the right side of Bādāmi‐Paṭṭadakallu road and 13 km northeast of Bādām. The site (Figures 32‐35, Tables: 17‐18) is surrounded with an

agricultural land in the south and rocky hillock towards the north. There is an isolated

rock huge boulder complex with shrub and thorny vegetation. The hill stretches

around 1.5 km in north‐south orientation (Mohana 2013, 2016b, 2017).

Figure 32: Panoramic view of the Kendur Kere Gondi

Table 17: Details of the Cliff, KKG‐1

structural remains of temples belonging to the

Badami Chalukyan period.

Natural Resources : Huligemma Koḷḷa (a stream and waterfall).

Proximity to water – 10 m

a. Location : This is the biggest cliff base

rock shelter in this complex.

200 m to the south of Gavi

Hanumappa (this shelter

dedicated to lord Hanuman,

worshipped by local people)

b. Local Name : nearby Bhavana phaḍi



ground

: 95 m



g. Floor : Pebbles, cobbles and covered with scattered

vegetation


Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

911

Figure 33: A deer with short horns and elongated body in side profile (a); humans in

different mode (b‐e).





the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Panḍavara Kere (seasonal mall lake on top of

the hill) and Hālu Ḍoṇe a perennial spring. Proximity to water – 50–700 m.


912

Table 18: Details of the Cliff, KKG‐2

Figure 34: A Set of Rhomboid Designs

a. Location : This is the biggest cliff base

rock shelter in this complex.

200 m to the south of Gavi

Hanumappa (this shelter

dedicated to lord Hanuman,

worshipped by local people)

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 60 m






j. Evidence of pounding : ‐



the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Panḍavara Kere and Hālu Ḍoṇe Proximity to

water – 50–800 m.

Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

913

Figure 35. Ostrich and some designs on the left of the bird (a); Frog in natural style

(b); (?) Cattle with hump and long tail (c); An unidentified intricate pattern and designs

(d‐h); an anthropomorphic figure in peculiar style (i); A human with legs apart (j).

Surgi Phadi (SGP) Surgi phaḍi (15⁰ 58ʹ 58.3ʺN ‐ 75⁰43ʹ 59.4ʺE : Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 582–586 m) is an

isolated rock shelters complex located 0.5 km northwest of Gavi Hanumappa Phaḍi. Agricultural operations are in progress all around, in a land owned by Sri

Hahagunddappa Hasbi. There are many rock shelters but paintings are found in only

two of them (Figures 36‐38, Tables 19‐20) (Mohana 2015a).

Table 19: Details of the Shelter, SGP‐1

a. Location : Locally known as Surgi phaḍi 500 m to the northwest of Gavi

Hanumappa phaḍi,

b. Local Name : Surgi phaḍi



ground

: 5 m

e. Orientation : Northwest


914

Figure 36: Panoramic view of the Surgi Phaḍi

Table 20: Details of the Shelter, SGP‐2








the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Hālu Ḍoṇe and Bachhalhaḷḷa .Proximity to water

– 700–900 m .

a. Location : 100 m next to SGP‐1.

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 2 m


f. Dimension : 7.5 x 5 x 4.8 m

g. Floor : Soil



Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

915

Figure 37: Human probably holding pole (a); Another human stretched his hands (b)

Figure 38: A human with stretched hands in ‘S’ shapes and legs apart (a); Unusual

Human figure (b)




the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Hālu Ḍoṇe and Bachhalhaḷḷa .Proximity to water –

700–900 m.


916

Hamsanūru (HSN) Hamsanūru (16⁰ 00ʹ 075ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 42ʹ 101ʺE: Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 6110 m) is located

about 3 km southwest of Hamsanῡru village. There are many rock shelters but

paintings are found only in two rock shelters in red‐ochre (Figures 39‐43, Tables: 21‐

22). Interestingly, the rock shelters of Hamsanῡru and the rock shelter Andar phaḍi (see AGD‐5) in Are Guḍḍa series are shelters on either sides of the hill; northwest‐southeast

respectively at about 1.2 km distance from each other (Mohana 2013, 2015, 2017a).

Figure 39: Panoramic View of the Hamsanur

Table 21: Details of the Shelter, HSN‐1

a. Location : 3 km southwest of

Hamsanῡru village

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 45 m





i. Type : Pictograph and Petroglyph



Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

917

Figure 40: Prehistoric ‘Badami Style of Human Figures’ and a wild boar

Figure 41: Rhombus (a); A naked human (b)


the Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Bhīmana Ḍoṇe (perennial Spring). Proximity to

water – 50 m.


918

Figure 42: Stick human figure (a); Unidentified motif

Figure 43: Cupules on the surface of the shelter

Table 22: Details of the Shelter, HSN‐2

a. Location : 100 m next to SGP‐1.

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 40 m


Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

919

Khanapura Sp (KNP) Khanapura Sp (16⁰ 01ʹ 005ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 47ʹ 061ʺE : Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 590 m) is located 2.5

km south of Guḷēda Guḍḍa, locally known as Allanḍe. The seasonal stream flows

between the shelters. There are two rock shelters with rock art pictures (Figures 44‐45,

Table 24) (Mohana 2015a).

Table 23: Details of the Shelter, KNP‐1

f. Dimension : 14.9 x 4.1 x 3.2 m






Archaeological Remains in the

Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Bhimana Ḍoṇe. Proximity to water – 50 m.

a. Location : Aḍuge phaḍi a Kannada word.

Aḍuge means cooking i.e. this

shelter is used for cooking by

the local people.

b. Local Name : Aḍuge phaḍi



ground

: 45 m




h. Depiction of pictures : On the bed‐rock: Above the surface



k. Present condition : Burning and cooking activities


the Vicinity

: Shivalinga inside the shelter

Natural Resources : Seasonal Stream. The stream flows in front of

the shelter


920

Figure 44: A crab (moving?). It is very interesting i.e. there is no another evidence of

crab in the study area

Figure 45: Two human figures each holding a shield in white

Table 24: Details of the Cliff, KNP‐2

a. Location : 100 m east of the KNP‐1

b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: 40 m


Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

921

Dodda Damaļi (DDM) The site Dodda Damaļi (15⁰ 59ʹ 269ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 48ʹ 528ʺE : Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 618m) is

located 5 km southwest of Ambigara Kaṭaginahaḷḷi village and 8 km southeast of Guḷēda Guḍḍa town, and 1 km northwest of Dyāamavva temple. There is an isolated hill

of boulders locally known as Sālu Phaḍi, having a shelter (Figures 46‐47, Table 25) and a stream about 100 m away (Mohana 2015a, 2014a, 2017a). .

Figure 46: General view of the Doḍḍa Damaḷi Site








Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : The stream flows in front of the shelter.

Proximity to water 5 m.


922

Table 25: Details of the Shelter, DDM‐1

Figure 47: Dodda Damali, Musical Cupules

a. Location : 1 km northwest of Dyāmavva temple.

b. Local Name : Doḍḍa Damaḷi



ground

: 2 m




h. Depiction of pictures : On the oblique slab: Above the surface

i. Type : Petroglyph (Cupules only)




Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Seasonal stream. Proximity to water 20 m.

Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

923

Chikka Damaļi (CDM) Chikka Damaļi (15⁰ 59ʹ 727ʺN ‐ 75⁰ 49ʹ 189ʺE: Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 575 m) is located 4.5

km southwest of Ambigara Kaṭaginahaḷḷi and to the north of Dyāmavva temple. It is an

isolated small hill of granite boulders (Figure 48‐49, Table 26), surrounded by semi

circular hill series (Mohana 2015a, 2014a).

Figure 48: General view of the Chikka Damaḷi Site

Table 26: Details of the Boulder, CDM‐1

a. Location : Chikka Damaḷi

b. Local Name : 575 m



ground

: 40 m


f. Dimension : ‐


h. Depiction of pictures : On boulders: Top of the hill

i. Type : Petroglyph (Cupules only)


k. Present condition : Expose to sky


Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Seasonal stream and a lake. Proximity to

water 20 m.


924

Figure 49: 51 cupules are seen on the boulders located at the top

Goolikatte (GKT) Gooḷlikaṭṭe (16° 02ʹ 409ʺN ‐ 75° 52 365ʺE : Elevation (AMSL) ‐ 590 m) is located 1 km

north of Kaḷḷi Guḍḍa and 2 km northwest to Aihoḷe, locally known as Gooḷlikaṭṭe (a Kannada word ‘gooḷi’ means bull) (Figures 50‐52, Tables 27‐28). Informed by

Parashuram Godi (personal communication 2014), Aihoḷe (Mohana 2015a).

Figure 50: General View of the Gooli Katte

Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

925

Figure 51: Three cattle. Two cattle, one behind the other and cattle with the head

turned back

Figure 52: Two cattle with prominent hump and long horns

Table 27: Details of the Boulder, GKT‐1


b. Local Name : Gooḷikaṭṭe



ground

: On the surface

e. Orientation : Southwest


926

Table 28: Details of the Boulder, GKT‐2

Acknowledgement The first author extends his deep gratitute to Profs. Sheila Mishra and G.L. Badam. He

special thanks to Hemant Dalavi, Prasurama Godi, Ashok Badami, R. Aejun,

Chandrakant Khalwankar, Naveen Kumar Kalmane, C. Shivaraj, Manjusri, Prasan

Kumar, and for assistance during fieldwork and Dr. Sareena Subba for edditing work.

His special thanks to Shri. Istalinga Sirsi (Vishwachetana Shraddha, Badami) for his

local support and accoumadation.

f. Dimension : ‐

g. Floor : Soil

h. Depiction of pictures : On the boulder: 0.5 m above the surface





Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Bayalu Basappana Haḷḷa (stream). Proximity to

water 150 m (to the north).


b. Local Name : ‐



ground

: On the surface

e. Orientation : Southeast

f. Dimension : ‐

g. Floor : Soil

h. Depiction of pictures : On the boulder: 0.2 m above the surface





Vicinity

: Not found

Natural Resources : Bayalu Basappana Haḷḷa (stream). Proximity to

water 150 m (to the north).

Mohana et al. 2017: 883‐929

927

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Newly Discovered Rock Art Sites in the Malaprabha Basin ... · Newly Discovered Rock Art Sites in the Malaprabha Basin, North Karnataka: A Report Mohana R.1, Sushama G. Deo1 and A