An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c18.s10.3

v1.c18.s10.3

The older paintings which lie below the historical paintings in superimpositions clearly depict a hunting-gathering way of life and therefore belong to the prehistoric period. Excavation of the Mesolithic deposits in many shelters at BHIMBETKA, ADAMGARH and Mirzapur have always produced haematite nodules with tell-tale grinding impressions. So far such nodules have not been found in the pre-Mesolithic layers in the shelters. There can be no doubt that pigment from these nodules was used for painting. A part of the paintings is therefore clearly associated with the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. For BHIMBETKA there are nearly a dozen ¹⁴C dates from Mesolithic deposits ranging rom 8000 B P to 2000 B.P The eldest of the paintings can therefore be as old as 8000 B P However since even the earliest painting are mature creations they imply a still older tradition of art among prehistoric societies.