25 Oct 2023 Edakkal Caves
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “ Edakkal Caves”. This topic has relevance in the Art and Culture section of the UPSC CSE exam.
GS 1: Art and Culture
Why in the news?
Kerala Tourism has initiated a project worth ₹2.9 crore to enhance public facilities around the Edakkal Caves in Wayanad.
About Edakkal Caves
The Edakkal Caves, located in the Wayanad district of Kerala on Ambukutty Mala, a prominent hill in the region, hold great historical and cultural significance. These caves are not your typical caves but rather natural clefts, rifts, or rock shelters formed when a piece of rock split away from the main hill. It was discovered in 1890 by British police official Fred Fawcett.
Significance of the Edakkal Caves:
- Historical Significance: The caves are historically significant due to their proximity to an ancient trade route connecting the high mountains of Mysore to the ports of the Malabar Coast.
- Pictorial Writings: Inside the Edakkal Caves, one can find pictorial writings that date back to at least 6,000 BCE during the Neolithic period.
- Unique Stone Age Carvings: The Stone Age carvings found in these caves are rare and represent the only known examples from South India, belonging to the Mesolithic era.
- Cultural Significance: The petroglyphs found in the caves include depictions of human and animal figures, tools used by humans, and enigmatic symbols that are yet to be deciphered. These artworks indicate a rich cultural and historical heritage.
- Indus Valley Connection: Some of the paintings found in the Edakkal Caves, particularly those depicting a “man with a jar cup,” have led to speculation about a possible connection to the Indus Valley civilization.
Source: Pre-historic rock art site in Wayanad cries for conservation – The Hindu
Download Yojna daily current affairs eng med 25th Oct 2023
Q.1 Edakkal Caves, recently seen in the news are situated in:
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala
- Andhra Pradesh
- Karnataka
ANSWER: B
Q.2 Consider the following statements about Edakkal Caves:
- It was discovered in 1890 by Fred Fawcett.
- Inside the caves, pictorial writings dating back to at least 6,000 BCE during the Neolithic period can be found.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: C
Q.3 Discuss the historical and cultural significance of cave architecture in India, with a focus on notable cave complexes and their contributions to art, religion, and the preservation of ancient heritage
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