Kumittipathi Rock Paintings, Tamil Nadu

Context

Miscreants have damaged the Kumittipathi Rock Paintings in the cave at Kumittipathi, a village near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Kumittipathi Rock Paintings

• These Kumittipathi Rock Paintings are among the most important rock art in the Kongu region and are around 3,000 years old. 
• They are drawn with white pigments on the walls of a natural cave and depict animals, human figures, and chariots.

About Rock Art

• Rock art refers to drawings, paintings, or similar works created on or of stone, typically from ancient or prehistoric times.
• It includes various forms, such as drawings (pictographs), carvings (petroglyphs), engravings, rock arrangements (petroforms), and ground drawings (geoglyphs).
• These artworks often show ancient animals, tools, and human activities, offering insights into past daily life. However, they are often symbolic rather than realistic.
• Rock art sites can have art from different centuries, showing the evolution of artistic styles over time.
• Cave Painting
  • Cave paintings are a type of rock art known as pictographs.

About Kumittipathi Rock Paintings at Pathimalai in Kumittipathi

• Variety of Depictions: Besides the elephant, the Kumittipathi Rock Paintings portray a chariot (interpreted by some as a peacock), human figures, and scenes from the lives of ancient inhabitants.
• Caves used for Dwellings: Small holes are also present that might have been used by the people who lived there to store water and other things.
• Variety in Age and Materials:
  • The rock expert suggests not all Kumittipathi Rock Paintings are from the same period. 
  • Materials: Artists likely used inorganic white pigment and natural gum.
• Similar Paintings in the Region: Rock paintings resembling those at Kumittipathi can be found at Vellarukkam Palayam, Viraliyur, and Kovanur.
  • They depict hunting scenes and other activities.
• Interpretation of elephant image
  • Age: The elephant image is believed to be among the oldest paintings in the cave.
  • Possible meaning:
  • Elephant trade: Some argue that the elephant image indicates the practice of capturing wild elephants and their trade owing to the proximity of Kumittipathi to two places: 
    • Mavuthampathi (suggesting a place inhabited by mahouts) 
    • Velanthavalam (a place for Vezham, which means elephant).
  • There is no evidence to support the claim: Others say there is no historical evidence linking the paintings to the two places.

Historian’s Perspective on Elephant Trade

• Denial of Elephant Trade: Historians disagree that the Kumittipathi Rock Paintings represents elephant trade, citing the absence of a governing empire in the region during the painting’s creation.
• Trade with Romans: Trade in the area with the Romans has been supported, but no historical evidence connects the paintings to the elephant trade.
• Alternative Interpretation:
• • Daily activities or religious practices: According to some historians, the rock paintings may depict daily activities or religious practices rather than the elephant trade.
  • Festival or an organized society: It has been suggested that an image interpreted as people pulling a chariot might symbolize something different, such as a festival or an organized society.
    • Despite being attributed to hunters, the paintings could serve as a representation of broader societal aspects.

Historian Perspective on Kumittipathi Rock Paintings

• Purpose: 

  • According to the archaeologists, the Kumittipathi Rock Paintings were created by tribal people for entertainment or because they believed that depicting hunting scenes increased hunting success. 
    • However, there are few hunting scenes at Kumittipathi.

• Meaning of a Specific Figure (Car): 

• • According to archaeology, a figure resembling a car might be a peacock. 

• Murugan Temple: 

  • A Murugan temple atop the hillock suggests that early inhabitants may have worshipped the deity.
    • There are also megalithic burial sites in the region

• Dating the Kumittipathi Rock Paintings: 

• • By linking the paintings to nearby megalithic burial sites, archaeologists estimate the art could date back to the 5th Century BCE.

• Geographical Significance: 

  • Kumittipathi is situated in the Palakkad Gap of the Western Ghats,  a notable break in the mountain range.
    • This geographical feature has historically served as a corridor connecting Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
  • Trade route: There were ancient trade routes known as Peruvazhi in the Palakkad Gap.
    • These trade routes existed between Anamalai and Ayyasamy Malai.
  • Trade route in the Sangam period: During the Sangam period, three trade routes passed through Anamalai, Vellalore, and Avinashi.

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