BHIMBETKA CAVES. history of architecture

The Bhimbetka Caves, located in Madhya Pradesh, India, are a group of rock shelters that exhibit some of the earliest traces of human life in the Indian subcontinent. Dating back to the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods, these caves feature prehistoric rock paintings depicting scenes of hunting, dancing, and daily life. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bhimbetka showcases the evolution of early human settlement, art, and architecture, making it a crucial site in the study of ancient Indian architecture and cultural history.

1. Rock shelters of Bhimbetka Bhimbetka Cave Paintings

2. T he B himbetka Rock Shelters Are An Archaeological Site In Central I ndia That Spans The Prehistoric P aleolithic And M esolithic Periods , As Well As The Historic Period . I t Exhibits The Earliest Traces Of Human Life In I ndia And Evidence Of S tone A ge Starting At The Site In A cheulian Times

3. Location Raise n District , Madhya Pradesh , India Criteria Cultural – one of the ancient civilizations of the world ( become Inscription Heritage site) UNESCO world 2003 (27th session ) Area ( total area covered by rocks) 1,893 ha (7.31 sq mi) Buffer zone 10,280 ha (39.7 sq mi) Coordinates (longitude and latitude as Cartesian system in globe) 22°56 ′ 18 ″ N 77°36 ′ 47 ″ E

4. T he R ock S helters Of B himbetka Are In The Foothills Of The V indhyan M ountains On The Southern Edge Of The Central I ndian Plateau T he Capital City Of M adhya P radesh ,i ndia - B hopal Is The Nearest Railhead To B himbetka . T he Railhead Is Around 37 kms Away From B himbetka And Is Connected To All The Domestic Railheads . I s Famous In All Over The World As It Is The Unesco World Heritage Site . I s Is The Oldest Art Gallery Of The World In India . I t Is Easy To Reach There By R oad . Bhimbetka Rock Shelters MADHYA P R A D E S H

5. Satellite image of Bhimbetka

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7. S PANNING ACROSS 10 KM , THERE ARE CLOSE TO 750 ROCK SHELTERS AND SEVEN HILLS IN THE AREA . T HESE CAVES HAVE NOW BEEN DECLARED A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE , OWING TO THEIR HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE . I N 1957, ARCHAEOLOGIST D R . V ISHNU W AKANKAR NOTICED THESE STRUCTURES FROM THE TRAIN WINDOW ON HIS WAY TO N AGPUR

8. U NLIKE MODERN DAY ART , CAVE PAINTINGS WERE DONE ON BARE ROCK SURFACES WITHOUT ANY PREP ON THE SURFACE . I N THE ABSENCE OF ANY PLASTERING OR SMOOTHENING OF THE ROCK , IT IS FASCINATING THAT THE COLOURS ARE STILL INTACT ON THE ROCKS AFTER MILLENNIA . S ANDSTONE IS A SEDIMENTARY AND HIGHLY ABSORBENT ROCK , ABLE TO RETAIN COLOURS THAT SEEP INTO ITS SURFACE . T O PAINT , NATURAL SOFT FIBRES AND HAIR WERE USED AS BRUSHES , AND IN SOME CASES PAINT WAS APPLIED USING FINGERS . M OSTLY WHITE AND RED COLOURS WERE USED WITH THE RARE APPEARANCE OF GREEN AND OCHRE . T O MAKE THESE MINERAL COLOURS , THE ARTISTS OF YORE TURNED TO THE ELEMENTS , USING WHITE CLAY , IRON ORE , STONES , ETC ….

9. Sandstone Is A Sedimentary And Highly Absorbent Rock, Able To Retain Colours That Seep Into Its Surface. To Paint, Natural Soft Fibres And Hair Were Used As Brushes, And In Some Cases Paint Was Applied Using Fingers. Mostly White And Red Colours Were Used With The Rare Appearance Of Green And Ochre

10. The Subject Matter In Bhimbetka Is Particularly Rich, Representing Many Aspects Of Life From Early Times To Later Periods, From Hunting Scenes To Religious Folk Symbols Like Dancing And Celebration. Here We Have A Mythical Animal, Enhanced By Dstretch . The Paints Were Made By Grinding Various Rocks And Minerals. They Got Red From Haematite (Iron Oxide, Known As ' Geru ' In India). The Green Came From A Green Variety Of A Stone Called Chalcedony. White Might Have Been Made Out Of Limestone .