Drone surveys, GPS mapping to document Konkan rock art in state-led heritage drive

Pune: Maharashtra govt has sanctioned Rs14.62 crore for an extensive research and documentation project on the prehistoric rock art sites scattered across the Konkan region, which is home to over 2,000 rock engravings across 175 villages, officials from the state directorate of archaeology and museums said. The directorate will oversee the project, and the initiative aims to unravel the mysteries surrounding these ancient carvings, as well as strengthen efforts to secure global recognition for these heritage sites.
As part of the project, dedicated ‘world heritage cells' are to be established in Mumbai and Ratnagiri. The Mumbai cell will focus on academic research, comparative studies of rock art in India and abroad, analysis of historical maps, satellite imagery and archival records, and the creation of a comprehensive digital encyclopaedia of Konkan rock art. A directorate official said, "The Ratnagiri cell will carry out extensive field surveys and site verification across the coastal belt, where rock engravings are found. Advanced methods such as drone-based surveys, GPS mapping, high-resolution photography and digital documentation will be deployed." The Ratnagiri cell will also study the geographical and cultural context of the sites, assess threats and deterioration, and recommend conservation and protection measures. Anthropologists estimate the rock art — petroglyphs and geoglyphs — to range from around 10,000 to 24,000 years old. For instance, the group of petroglyphs at Deud in Ratnagiri dates back to the Mesolithic era (roughly 10,000–20,000 years ago), according to the state culture department. Geoglyphs and petroglyphs are different types of ancient art forms, both involving the creation of images or designs on the earth's surface or rock surfaces. Geoglyphs are often enormous, stretching for hundreds of meteres or kilometres, while petroglyphs are typically smaller, human-scale carvings. The petroglyphs found in the Konkan region depict a rhino, deer, monkey, donkey, and footprints, while the geoglyphs tend towards abstract forms. Experts have said this rock art holds extraordinary importance, as it represents the creations of Mesolithic humans. The directorate official added, "Several rock art sites, including Barsu Group No 2, Chave, Devihasol and Kasheli in Ratnagiri district, are already declared state-protected monuments." Govt is also pursuing the nomination of the Konkan rock art sites to the tentative World Heritage Site list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco). Clusters of the prehistoric rock art carvings are estimated to be spread along 900km of the Konkan coast in Maharashtra and Goa. Although locals knew about some of these as cultural relics left by their ancestors, their initial discovery was formally recognised in 2012. Ratnagiri alone is home to more than 1,500 such artworks across 70 sites, seven of which are on Unesco's tentative World Heritage Site list. Officials said the fresh research will provide deeper insights into prehistoric human life in the Konkan region and help build a strong scientific case for long-term conservation and international recognition of Maharashtra's unique rock art heritage. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and quotes !