Fossils of ‘Dickinsonia’ found at Bhimbetka

Bhimbetka Caves

• The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site in central India.
• It spans the prehistoric Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods, as well as the historic period.
• It exhibits the earliest traces of human life in India and evidence of the Stone Age.
• It is located in the Raisen District in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh about 45 kilometers (28 mi) south-east of Bhopal.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Different periods of panting

• Period I – (Upper Paleolithic): These are linear representations, in green and dark red, of huge figures of animals such as bison, tigers, and rhinoceroses.
• Period II – (Mesolithic): In addition to animals there are human figures and hunting scenes, giving a clear picture of the weapons they used: barbed spears, pointed sticks, bows, and arrows.
• Period III – (Chalcolithic): These drawings reveal that during this period the cave dwellers of this area were in contact with the agricultural communities of the Malwa plains, exchanging goods with them.
• Periods IV & V – (Early historic): The figures of this group have a schematic and decorative style and are painted mainly in red, white, and yellow.
  • The association is of riders, the depiction of religious symbols, tunic-like dresses, and the existence of scripts of different periods.
  • The religious beliefs are represented by figures of yakshas, tree gods, and magical sky chariots.
  • Periods VI & VII – (Medieval): These paintings are geometric linear and more schematic.
  • The colors used by the cave dwellers were prepared by combining black manganese oxides, red hematite, and charcoal.

Auditorium cave

• The Auditorium cave is one of the significant features of the site.
• It is surrounded by quartzite towers.
• The Auditorium rock is the largest shelter at Bhimbetka.