Cave Paintings of India

Timeline of Human Development
First Online: September 17, 2001
Last Updated: November 16, 2024

Upper Paleolithic	Period I
Mesolithic	Period II
Neolithic	Period III
Bronze Age	Period IV
Early Medieval	Period IV

Timeline by Vikas Kamat based on an exhibit at the Tribal Museum, Bhopal 
All Pictures by K. L. Kamat

Notice how the progress of mankind is depicted through the art left behind by the prehistoric man. In the very early periods the only living was plucking and living off of the trees. Then man learnt to catch rats, and the use of the stone weapons. The bronze age art shows use of bows, arrows and other tools as well as taming of the animal world. In the later cave painting we find complex art, focus on family, as well as fierce warfare among the tribes.

See Also:

• Pre-historic Rock Paintings -- The pre-historic rock paintings of Madhya Pradesh are 5000 to 20000 years old. Kamat wonders on the meaning of some of the paintings while narrating their value

• Ajanta and Ellora -- The caves of Ajanta and Ellora in Maharashtra are adorned with elaborate sculptures and paintings of an era that has long gone.

• Timelines of India -- Index

• Interview with Vishnu S.Wakankar -- the man who discovered Bhimabetka