Stone age writing

Edakkal Caves are two natural caves located 1000 metres high on Ambukutty Mala 25 kms from Kalpetta in the Wayanad district of Kerala in India's Western Ghats. They lie on an ancient trade route connecting the high mountains of Mysore to the Malabar coast ports. Inside the caves are pictorical writings believed to be from neolithic man, evidence of the presence of a prehistoric civilisation existing in this region. Such stone age carvings are very rare and these are the only known examples in southern India.^[1] Stone Age fishing hook. ... Ambukuthi mala Carvings inside Edakkal Caves Ambukuthi mala is a mountain in the Wayanad district of Kerala, India. ... Kalpetta is the headquaters of Wayanad district in the state of Kerala in India. ... For the district with the same name, see Wayanad District. ... Kerala ( ; Malayalam: േകരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... The Agasthiyamalai range of the Western Ghats The Western Ghats are a mountain range in India. ... Malabar Coast, Kerala Bekal Fort Beach, Kerala The Malabar Coast also known as the Malabarian Coast, is a long and narrow south-western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. ... An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools. ... Stone Age fishing hook. ...

Petroglyphs

These are not technically caves by rather a cleft or rift approximately 96 feet by 22 feet, a 30 foot deep fissure caused by a piece of rock splitting away from the main body. On one side of the cleft a rock weighing several tons has fallen over the fissure forming a roof. The carvings are of human and animal figures, as well as of tools used by humans and symbols, suggesting they were created by a highly civilised prehistoric people.^[2] For other uses, see Cleft (disambiguation). ... In geology, a rift is a place where the Earths lithosphere is expanding. ... Fissure (Latin fissura, Plural fissurae) is a groove, natural division, deep furrow, or cleft found in the brain, spinal cord, and liver; or a tear in the anus. ...

Petroglyphs dating back to about 4000 BC

The petroglyphs inside the cave are of at least three distinct types. The oldest may date back over 5000 years ago. Evidence indicates that the Edakkal caves had been inhabited at several different times in history.^[3] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 785 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Image taken by me with my digital camera. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 785 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Image taken by me with my digital camera. ... Petroglyphs on Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument, southern Utah, USA Petroglyphs are images created by removing part of a rock surfaces by incising, pecking, carving, and abrading. ... Petroglyphs on Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument, southern Utah, USA Petroglyphs are images created by removing part of a rock surfaces by incising, pecking, carving, and abrading. ...

The caves were accidently discovered by Fred Fawcett in 1890 who immediately understood their anthropological and historical importance. He subsequently wrote an article about them, attracting the attention of scholars.^[4]

Look closely at ravine and see light shining through Edakkal caves

See also

• petroglyph
• Rock art
• Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Petroglyphs on Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument, southern Utah, USA Petroglyphs are images created by removing part of a rock surfaces by incising, pecking, carving, and abrading. ... Rock art is a term in archaeology for any man-made markings made on natural stone. ... Bhimbetka rock painting Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka is an archaeological site in Madhya Pradesh where the earliest traces of human life in India were found. ...

Notes

1. ^ Edakkal Caves. Wayanad.nic. Retrieved on 2007 April 7.
2. ^ Edakkal Cave. Kerala gov. Retrieved on 2007 April 7.
3. ^ Edakkal Caves. Edakkal Caves Website. Retrieved on 2007 April 7.
4. ^ Throwing new light on Edakkal Caves. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007 April 7.

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ...

External links

• Edakkal Caves Website
• On a history trail