An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c18.1

v1.c18.1

It is ironical that although the first discovery of prehistoric rock paintings in the world was made in India, Indian prehistoric art is very poorly known both inside the country and outside, as by and large most Indian archaeologists have shown little interest in them. It was in 1867-8 that A.C.L. Carlleyle of the ASI discovered paintings on the walls and ceilings of rock-shelters near Sohagighat in Dt Mirzapur. Carlleyle was also the first to claim a Stone Age antiquity and authorship for these paintings on the basis of his findings in the excavations in the same shelters. Since then a number of amateur and professional archaeologists have discovered and described cave paintings and other drawings in different parts of India. Even then the study of Indian rock art remains in a very elementary stage. There is great divergence of opinion among workers with regard to styles, phases and dating.