The present volume embodies comprehensive documentation classification and analysis of the rock art of Andhra Pradesh which is one of the important regional rock art zones of peninsular India. The rock art data is analysed from the thematic and stylistic perspective taking note of the features such as colour schemes superimpositions and state of preservation of the pictographs and petroglyphs. The entire corpus of rock art is classified both at the intra site and inter site levels and tentatively dated to Mesolithic Neolithic Megalithic and historical periods. This is done on the basis of the internal analysis of the rock art representations corroborated by circumstantial archaeological data either from excavations or surface context.
This work is the outcome of a multi-disciplinary research carried out in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi as part of its National Project Adi Drishya. A multi disciplinary team comprising of specialists from archaeology, folklore geology and botany conducted a through field based study of all the known rock art sites in Andhra Pradesh. The archaeological context of each of the rock art site is thoroughly investigated and surface evidences are recorded. In each site, the geological features are meticulously studied to understand the structure of the rock shelters causes and processes of natural decay. The botanical investigation is focused on the documentation of the natural flora rare and endangered trees and plants of medicinal and commercial value in each site. The folk perspective of the rock art sites is analysed by a study of their cultic and religious significance in the native/local folklore, mythology and ritual practices. The book is richly illustrated with colour photographs of rock paintings, digital maps line drawings and locational maps of the rock art sites. |
