Edakkal caves
Topic: Prehistory: Human Origins and Stone Age Cultures · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Edakkal caves are natural rock caves in Wayanad district of Kerala. Their walls carry petroglyphs, which are pictures carved or scratched into rock rather than painted. The carvings show human figures, animals and symbols, and they are generally dated to the Neolithic (New Stone Age). Later inscriptions in the Brahmi script were added on the same walls. This makes the caves a record of both prehistoric and historic times.
Example
The Edakkal walls show carved human figures, some with headdresses, along with symbols. They are among the best-known prehistoric rock carvings in south India.
Don't confuse with
- Bhimbetka: Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh is a World Heritage Site with hundreds of rock shelters whose art is mostly painted. At Edakkal the images are mostly carved.
Related concepts
- Palaeolithic age
- Acheulian tradition
- Handaxe
- Attirampakkam
- Isampur
- Hunsgi valley
- Pallavaram
- Didwana
- Soanian culture
- Hathnora