Rock marks, game boards: Wildlife trail leads to prehistoric past in Aravalli

Key Highlights:

• Ancient petroglyphs, stone game boards, and tools have been discovered in the Bhondsi stretch of the Aravalli forests in Gurgaon.
• The findings demonstrate a rare chronological continuity of human activity, spanning from the Lower Palaeolithic to the Mesolithic period.
• The site features diverse markings including cup-shaped depressions (cupules), geometric grids, and a large foot-shaped engraving.
• Teams from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Chandigarh Circle and the Haryana Archaeology Department are actively documenting the site.
• LIDAR scanning is being utilized to create detailed digital records of the newly discovered petroglyphs.
• The archaeological site faces threats from the land mafia, prompting calls for urgent protection measures from the state government.

Detailed Insights:

• The discovery in Bhondsi underscores the Aravalli belt's significance as a repository of multiple prehistoric phases, offering insights into early human history.
• Scholars interpret hand engravings on rock as evidence of a cognitive shift in early human societies, reflecting evolving thought processes.
• The presence of handaxes and cleavers indicates early stone-tool traditions dating back to the Lower Palaeolithic period.
• Later Middle Palaeolithic activity, approximately 300,000 to 50,000 years ago, is evidenced by specific tools found at the site.
• Cupules and rock art-like markings are believed to belong to later symbolic or ritual phases, particularly the Mesolithic period.
• During the Mesolithic, communities were known for developing paintings, burial practices, and other markers of social life.
• The Bhondsi cluster is particularly notable for the concentration and variety of markings found on its exposed rock surfaces.
• The foot-shaped engraving may have held significant ritualistic or ceremonial importance for the ancient communities.
• The initial discovery was made by wildlife photographers Yatin Verma and Shankulhar in February, highlighting the role of citizen science.
• The Aravalli Range, one of the world's oldest mountain systems, has historically provided shelter and resources for early human settlements.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Petroglyphs: Images or designs carved or engraved on rock surfaces by prehistoric people.
• Palaeolithic Period: The earliest and longest phase of the Stone Age, characterized by the development and use of rudimentary chipped stone tools.
• Mesolithic Period: The Middle Stone Age, a transitional period between the Palaeolithic and Neolithic, marked by the use of microliths and rock art.
• LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): A remote sensing method that uses pulsed laser light to measure ranges and create high-resolution 3D models of surfaces, useful for archaeological mapping.