Meet the keepers of India's oldest art gallery | Hindustan Times
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Meet the keepers of India's oldest art gallery

Updated On May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST
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Most of the art that has survived all these thousands of years later are the ones painted in the niches and on undersides of the rocks, keeping them safe from rain and the elements. (Text by Rachel Lopez; photos by Kalpak Pathak) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Most of the art that has survived all these thousands of years later are the ones painted in the niches and on undersides of the rocks, keeping them safe from rain and the elements. (Text by Rachel Lopez; photos by Kalpak Pathak)

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The rock art from the medieval period is characterised by geometric patterns – most figures are composed of triangular shapes, like today’s Warli art. Did these fierce spearmen win their fight? expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

The rock art from the medieval period is characterised by geometric patterns – most figures are composed of triangular shapes, like today’s Warli art. Did these fierce spearmen win their fight?

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Pradyumn Bhatt helped discover several cup-like depressions in the Chaturbhuj Nala area. The impressions, called cupules, are said to me much older than the oldest rock art. expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Pradyumn Bhatt helped discover several cup-like depressions in the Chaturbhuj Nala area. The impressions, called cupules, are said to me much older than the oldest rock art.

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Animals and humans make up most of the rock paintings in central India. Look closely at this one and you’ll see both, indicating that this is some kind of dramatic pastoral scene. expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Animals and humans make up most of the rock paintings in central India. Look closely at this one and you’ll see both, indicating that this is some kind of dramatic pastoral scene.

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What’s that strange snakelike creature on the right? A reptile? A dragon? And did you notice the peacock on the bottom right? We bet you didn’t! expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

What’s that strange snakelike creature on the right? A reptile? A dragon? And did you notice the peacock on the bottom right? We bet you didn’t!

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Rajeev Chaubey has work out several pairs of shoes on his missions to find ancient objects in his native district of Raisen. Many of his finds are housed in a museum he helped build. expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Rajeev Chaubey has work out several pairs of shoes on his missions to find ancient objects in his native district of Raisen. Many of his finds are housed in a museum he helped build.

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Look closely at this row of figures, there are different tasks, different activities in progress. And it looks like they’re all having a good time, no? expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Look closely at this row of figures, there are different tasks, different activities in progress. And it looks like they’re all having a good time, no?

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Pradyumn Bhatt, on his back so as to better see some paintings, tells us that the decorations in the foreground might have had special significance for early settlers expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Pradyumn Bhatt, on his back so as to better see some paintings, tells us that the decorations in the foreground might have had special significance for early settlers

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Narayan Vyas retired from the ASI but is as active in archaeology as ever. He was attacked by bees at one site, but after recovering in the ICU he’s back on the rocks. expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Narayan Vyas retired from the ASI but is as active in archaeology as ever. He was attacked by bees at one site, but after recovering in the ICU he’s back on the rocks.

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In Pengavan, a tiny hamlet in Raisen, the rocks look like they could be a Star Trek set. Unfortunately, the area’s 35 rock shelters are in danger as locals have started building their own holes in the rockscape expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

In Pengavan, a tiny hamlet in Raisen, the rocks look like they could be a Star Trek set. Unfortunately, the area’s 35 rock shelters are in danger as locals have started building their own holes in the rockscape

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Community living was only possible when the hunter-gatherer settled down to become a farmer. There’s a primitive party going on here – notice the line of dancers and two drummers? expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Community living was only possible when the hunter-gatherer settled down to become a farmer. There’s a primitive party going on here – notice the line of dancers and two drummers?

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Farming bring with it fowl and livestock. Could you be looking at a primitive chicken? expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Farming bring with it fowl and livestock. Could you be looking at a primitive chicken?

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A ritual sacrifice is in progress, with two figures holding up a stick on which some sort of animal is impaled. Note the stylised decorations on the animal’s body! expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

A ritual sacrifice is in progress, with two figures holding up a stick on which some sort of animal is impaled. Note the stylised decorations on the animal’s body!

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Boar Rock takes its name from the pig-like mythical animal painted high on the right side. expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Boar Rock takes its name from the pig-like mythical animal painted high on the right side.

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Long-tusked elephant figures point to a very distant past. Most prehistoric paintings in Madhya Pradesh depict hunting, farming, community and battle scenes. expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Long-tusked elephant figures point to a very distant past. Most prehistoric paintings in Madhya Pradesh depict hunting, farming, community and battle scenes.

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Several scenes depict man and cattle. In this one, the humans are tiny, the animal looms large. Perhaps they’re trying to fight or tame it? expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on May 28, 2015 04:30 PM IST

Several scenes depict man and cattle. In this one, the humans are tiny, the animal looms large. Perhaps they’re trying to fight or tame it?

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