Post by theshee on Dec 23, 2010 21:43:04 GMT 10
A Bundi-based amateur archeologist has claimed to have discovered a rock painting of pre-historic age stretching up to 35 km in the Garadha area of the district.
Fifty-six-year-old Om Prakash Sharma, alias 'Kukki', who calls himself a professional archaeologist despite not having a degree in the subject, says, "The rock painting stretches up to 35 km, with its tail at Mandal dam, Bhilwara district and head at Banki village in Garadha area of the district."
The painting has images of human beings, animals such as tigers, panthers, antelopes and various antique tools, Kukki claims that it belongs to Mesolithic period that dates back to nearly ten thousand years in Stone Age. He said that there were 32 sites in the rock painting and are stretching over the basin of Mangli river.
"Red, white, black, yellow and rarely applied green are the frequently used colours in the rock paintings," he said, adding, the rock paintings in this region date back to Chalcolithic period, Neolithic, early historic and historic periods. Kukki claims the rock paintings could perhaps be the World's Longest Rock Painting.
Kukki, who began his hunt for ancient and antique articles as an archaeologist in the late 70s, discovered coins in early stages but went on to focus on discovering rock paintings only in 1995. Since then, Kukki says, he has discovered over 78 sites of rock paintings in the Garadha area of the district adjoining to Bhilwara and Chittor districts of the state.
Kukki, a grocery shop owner in Bundi, has also been documented by Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, Indian Rock Art and Research Centre, Nasik, and by State Archaeological Department, Jaipur.
Modestly attired Kukki, passionate about all things ancient, traverses the harsh terrain of Bundi that lies about 35 km from Kota in Rajasthan and in nearby areas, looking for archaeological evidence left behind by pre-historic men. Be it mountains, waterfalls or walls of dark, forgotten caves, with no professional aid to help him in his endeavour, He is always on the lookout for new sites to explore.
"In the last two decades, I have discovered over 75 sites of archaeological importance," he says.
Once known only for its magnificent fort, Bundi has now been put on the tourist map by this 55-year-old, a one-time sweet-shop owner. Now,a number of archaeologists and enthusiasts from across the world visit the region to see the paintings that Kukki says have been "discovered" by him. And for all his efforts, the only thing he yearns for is a bit of recognition.
"The sheer joy of exploring something that has not been seen by anyone before fuels my desire, and gives me the courage to fight my family that wonders why I don't do something that's more lucrative," says Kukki.
His journey as a relic hunter dates back to the early '90s when he started "copying" a neighbour in collecting old coins and metal toys."
In a bid to outshine' him, I would wander in the nearby forests and deserted hilly regions looking around for more such stuff. And soon, in a few months, this relic-hunting game turned into a passion. I would roam around mountain terrains for hours looking for something different and unique," he says.
www.discoveryon.info/2010/12/rock-painting-of-pre-historic-age.html
nice find shee,i love some of the hidden secrets of india
Happy New Years Everybody!!!
