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Rock Art of the Vindhyas: An Archaeological Survey The Documentation and Analysis of the Rock Art Of Mirzapur District, Uttar Pradesh Ajay Pratap Archaeopress Archaeology

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Page 1: Pratap 2016b

Rock Art of the Vindhyas: An Archaeological Survey

The Documentation and Analysis of the Rock Art Of Mirzapur

District, Uttar Pradesh

Ajay Pratap

Archaeopress Archaeology

Page 2: Pratap 2016b

Archaeopress Publishing LtdGordon House

276 Banbury RoadOxford OX2 7ED

www.archaeopress.com

ISBN 978 1 78491 ISBN 978 1 78491 (e-Pdf)

© Archaeopress and A Pratap 2015

Cover Photo: View of the Ganga Plains from Morhana Pahar

ICHR Project Code: F. No. 1-1/2009-ICHR (GIA-III) RP

Banaras Hindu University Project Code: P.23/26/

The publication of this book has been financially supported by the Indian Council of Historical Research. The responsibility for the facts stated or opinions expressed is entirely that of the author and not of the council.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise,

without the prior written permission of the copyright owners.

Printed in England by

This book is available direct from Archaeopress or from our website www.archaeopress.com

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Contents

List of Figures ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� iv

List of Maps �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� vi

List of Tables ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� vi

Acknowledgements ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������vii

Glossary ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ix

Chapter 1 Introduction ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 11.1 Introduction.............................................................................................. 11.2 The Archaeology of Mirzapur .................................................................. 11.3 The Geography of Mirzapur District ......................................................... 91.4 Summaries .............................................................................................. 191.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 20

Chapter 2 Methodology ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 212.1 Introduction............................................................................................ 212.2 Previous research ................................................................................... 212.2 Colonial archaeologists ........................................................................... 232.3 Post-colonial archaeologists ................................................................... 39 2.4 Sampling Strategy .................................................................................. 402.5 Literature Survey .................................................................................... 412.6 Documenting rock art ............................................................................ 432.7 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 43

Chapter 3 The Field Survey �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 443.1 Introduction............................................................................................ 443.2 Field survey strategy ............................................................................... 443.3 Our Archaeological Survey ..................................................................... 453.4 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 50

Chapter 4 Discussing the Rock Art Data ������������������������������������������������������� 544.1 Introduction............................................................................................ 544.2 Rock Art at Wyndham Falls ..................................................................... 544.3 Rock Art at Likhaniya Dari ...................................................................... 594.4 Rock Art at Chuna Dari ........................................................................... 634.5 Rock Art at Morhana Pahar .................................................................... 71

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4.6 Rock Art at Lekhania Pahar ..................................................................... 874.7 Rock Art at Mukkha Dari ........................................................................ 914.8 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 95

Chapter 5 Post-depositional Processes and Rock Art ������������������������������������ 965.1 Introduction............................................................................................ 965.3 Types of post-depositional processes ..................................................... 99

Contemporary ‘mock’ art ........................................................................ 99Animal droppings, rubbing and use ........................................................ 99Re-use of Vindhyan rock shelters ......................................................... 101Bird nests............................................................................................... 101Thin-film Silica formation ...................................................................... 103Calcite formation ................................................................................... 103Wind action ........................................................................................... 105Rain weathering .................................................................................... 105Graffiti ................................................................................................... 106Algae, Lichen, and Moss ........................................................................ 106Termite infestation, Tourist campfires and decomposing rock .............. 106Plant overgrowth ................................................................................... 108Thermal weathering of paint................................................................. 110Water throwing .................................................................................... 110Scratching, bruising and battering ........................................................ 112Campfire smoke .................................................................................... 112Rock fall and ceiling collapse ................................................................. 112Mining and quarrying ............................................................................ 115Alteration of site-structure ................................................................... 115

5.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 115

Chapter 6 Analyzing Chronology ���������������������������������������������������������������� 1176.1. Introduction......................................................................................... 1176.2 Relative Chronologies ........................................................................... 1176.3 Our work: chronology........................................................................... 1206.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 125

Chapter 7 Analyzing Style �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1267.1 Introduction.......................................................................................... 1267.2 Early Ideas about Style in Vindhyan rock art ........................................ 1267.3 Contemporary approaches to style ...................................................... 1287.4 What is the Function of Style in Vindhyan Rock Art? .......................... 1327.5 Broad characteristics of Vindhyan rock art ........................................... 1327.7 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 137

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Chapter 8 Interpreting Function ����������������������������������������������������������������� 1388.1 Introduction.......................................................................................... 1388.2 The function of Vindhyan rock art ........................................................ 1388.3 Vindhyan rock art as a local tradition? ................................................. 1398.4 Rock art and ethnic identity ................................................................ 1428.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................... 145

Chapter 9 Archaeological interpretation ���������������������������������������������������� 1499.1 Introduction.......................................................................................... 1499.2 Vindhyan ethnography ......................................................................... 1499.3 Archaeological Data from the Vindhyas ............................................... 1519.4 Ethnographic Data from the Vindhyas.................................................. 1569.5 Excavated faunal species ..................................................................... 1579.6 Faunal species depicted in Vindhyan rock art ...................................... 1579.7 Correspondence between the faunal imagery and excavations ........... 1589.8 Prehistoric settlement pattern of the Vindhyas ................................... 1599.9 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 160

Chapter 10 Conclusion ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 16110.1 Introduction ....................................................................................... 161

Bibliography ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 162

Index ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 168