Real Estate, Official Apathy Uproot 10,000-Year-Old Rock Art Sites

Hyderabad: The real estate boom, coupled with sheer neglect to history, has led to the disappearance of the rock art site of Mesolithic period at Kokapet in the city, while artwork at Gundla Pochampally is on the verge of extinction. Only a few such artworks have withered at Manchirevula and Kothwalguda.

The rock art sites, which now became a history, reflected the lifestyle of the early humans and animals they lived with. Artistically drawn on the walls and ceilings, these paintings depicted social, cultural, economical, religious and ritualistic aspects pertaining to ancient human lives, proving that Hyderabadi rocks preserved human evolution.

Only a few such paintings, including the ones at the top of a hillock in Manchirevula Forest Trek Park belonging to the stone age (Mesolithic period), have stood the test of time. This site has paintings of three tortoises, one fish and a geometric motif belonging to the Mesolithic phase, which spans roughly between BC 10000 to 4,000 BC.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Dr M.A. Srinivasan, assistant professor in the department of history, culture and tourism, Suravaram Pratapa Reddy Telugu University, said a close observation of the painting reveals broken pieces of Quartzite used in making microliths.

"This clearly shows that the site is from the Mesolithic site. There might be some water sources nearby which provided the people dwelling under this rock shelter with tortoises and fish," he said.

Hyderabad has two more rock art sites, one at Kokapet that became extinct with urbanisation, while the other one at Gundlapochampally is on the verge of extinction.

Dr Sai Krishna, assistant archaeologist, ASI Hyderabad circle, said he discovered four rock art sites dating back between 4,000 and 10,000 years at Gundlapochampally in 2015 and another in 2022. However, the fifth site has already disappeared due to urban development and the remaining were under threat.

"Some paintings were located on a 27-foot-high wall and on the roof of the rock shelter, suggesting that the people who made them were tall or used some method to reach such heights. Elephant paintings found at the site indicate that the area was once connected to the Narsapur forest," he said.

The Megalithic period paintings in red, white and yellow colours at Kothwalguda had been made using haematite stone mixed with animal fat and tree oil.

According to historian Vemuganti Murali Krishna, several rock artworks were fading or rusting, and people unaware of their importance were damaging them by scribbling.

Sriramoju Haragopal, convener of Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam, said that any site, which is more than 100 years-old, must be preserved. Even if such heritage is located on private land, notices could be issued and steps could be taken to protect it, he added.