MANUU Scholar Discovery Of Prehistoric Rock Art
- MANUU scholar finds prehistoric site in Bhadradri Kothagudem
- Rock art discovery adds to Mesolithic heritage record
A MANUU scholar discovery has brought to light a prehistoric rock art site of major importance near Palwancha in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana. The site was discovered by Kondaveeti Gopi, a research scholar of Maulana Azad National Urdu University. The finding highlights the growing academic contribution of MANUU scholars to the study of early human history in the Deccan region.
Kondaveeti Gopi is pursuing his PhD at the H K Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies at MANUU. He has a long standing record of documenting and discovering megalithic and prehistoric sites across Telangana. His work has mainly focused on tribal and forested regions. Therefore, the latest discovery builds on years of systematic field exploration and documentation.
According to Prof. Salma Ahmed Farooqui, Director of the Centre for Deccan Studies, the discovery was made during an exploration carried out by the scholar. She noted that Kondaveeti Gopi had earlier brought to light several megalithic and prehistoric sites in the region. Notably, he had previously discovered the Ontigundu Rock Art site near Nallamudi village. He had also submitted a research paper on that site to the Rock Art Society of India.
Prehistoric rock art dated to Mesolithic period
The newly discovered rock art includes paintings made with red ochre. These depict animals, hunting scenes, and human figures. The images appear on natural rock surfaces, indicating early human artistic expression linked to daily life and survival. Based on stylistic and thematic features, researchers have tentatively dated the paintings to the Mesolithic period. This period is broadly placed between 10,000 and 5,000 BCE. However, scholars also suggest that the site may belong to an early Neolithic transitional phase.
Meanwhile, experts believe the discovery holds special value for understanding cultural developments in southern India. The Eastern Godavari Basin region has limited documented Mesolithic sites. Therefore, the addition of this rock art site strengthens the prehistoric record of the area. It also helps researchers trace early human movement, symbolic expression, and adaptation to changing environments.
The MANUU scholar discovery is seen as a milestone in the exploration of Mesolithic cultural heritage in Telangana. Academics note that such findings underline the importance of sustained field research. They also stress the need for further study and conservation of prehistoric sites. The discovery adds another significant chapter to the understanding of early human history in the region.
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