The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted an epigraphical survey in Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary uncovering significant prehistoric and early historic rock art and inscriptions.

• The findings offer valuable insights into the region’s cultural and historical heritage.

Key Highlights

• The ASI team discovered three rock shelters, one of which contained prehistoric rock paintings.
• Period: Dated back to the Megalithic (Iron Age) and early historic period (2500 BCE – 2nd century CE).
• Paintings depicted animals, human figures, and geometric drawings.
• Material: Created using Red Ochre, Kaolin, animal fat, and crushed bones as a binding agent.
• Inscriptions: 30 inscriptions from 4th–10th century CE were documented.
  • These inscriptions are written in Brahmi, Nagari, Telugu scripts and some in shell characters in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Telugu languages.

About Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Sanctuary is an ecologically and historically significant protected area located  in the Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh.
• It forms the catchment area for the Pennar River which passes through the eastern side of the sanctuary and is connected to the Telugu Ganga Canal.\
• Unique Biodiversity:
  • Home to Jerdon’s Courser, a critically endangered bird rediscovered in 1986 after being presumed extinct for a century.
• Flora & Fauna:
  • Flora: Includes Red Sanders, Sandalwood, Bamboo, Terminalia spp., Syzygium spp., and tropical thorn forests.
  • Fauna: Supports endangered species like panthers, jackals, chinkara, sloth bears, and diverse amphibians, reptiles, and birds (Indian tree-pie, night jar, grey hornbill, etc.).
• Forest Types & Climate:
  • Southern tropical dry deciduous forests in hills and scrub forests in plains.
  • Maximum temperature reaches 44°C, with a minimum of 20°C.