UUnder the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1960, the Maharashtra government last week declared 1,500 geoglyphs spread across 70 sites in a 210-square-kilometer area of Ratnagiri district “protected monument”. These rock art specimens, scattered across the Konkan region, date from prehistory, at least from the Mesolithic period (the transitional period between the Stone Age and early agriculture), about 20,000 to 10,000 years ago, and extend to the early historic period. Through their anthropomorphic and zoomorphic representation, they reflect intricate and complex interactions between humans and their environment and the ancient ecosystem.
This recognition did not come by itself. It took local people over two decades to launch an extraordinary archaeological project and explore over 45 such sites before the government intervened. Today, around 52 sites with 1,500 geoglyphs have been recorded over a 900 km stretch. Konkan Coastthis is a remarkable fleet. These newly declared protected monuments, as well as numerous examples from parts of the country, have opened up new areas of research and put India on the map of its contemporary geoglyph sites, alongside Chile’s Atacama Giant and Peru’s Nazca Lines.
This clearly shows that the subcontinent was keeping pace with global trends even in prehistoric times. Humans sprang into action when geoglyphs became a prehistoric global phenomenon in prehistoric times.
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What is a geoglyph?
Geoglyphs are deliberately huge patterns created on the earth’s surface by hollowing out rock and removing sand, soil and stones. They are representations of naturalistic or abstract forms, either a single large shape or an ensemble of smaller figures. Because of their size, they are visible from a distance, which requires knowledge of proportion and mathematics.
Either an additive or a subtractive/extractive technique is used to create these representations. The additive technique involves piling rubble or stones on the surface to create an outline, while the extractive technique involves removing the top oxidized layer, exposing the sand layer of the rock.
Geoglyphs are either anthropomorphic, zoomorphic or simple geometric shapes. Sometimes they represent abstract, complex images called glyphs, repeating spirals, labyrinths, etc. These are often associated with religion and spirituality. They have cultural significance and remain for a long time as a testimony.
Ancient geoglyphs have been found in Europe, North and South America, Australia, Africa and Asia. More recent discoveries have also been reported from the Middle East and India. The Cerne Abbas Giant, the White Horse of Uffington, the Atacama Giant and the Nazca Lines are some of the most significant geoglyphs.
The geoglyphs of India
For a long time, no geoglyphs were known in India, although the country has a rich heritage of rock art that reflects regional and indigenous diversity. While sites like Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh are famous for their painted motifs on rocks, and Ladakh is full of etched patterns and designs on the rock surface (known as petroglyphs), the huge abstract or figurative geoglyphs – known as “a remarkable open-air ensemble”– were missing in the deep prehistoric past of the subcontinent.
It was only in the 1980s that an enthusiast discovered abstract relief patterns and roadside markings in Niwali, 15 km from Ratnagiri. The discovery of these strange patterns on the earth’s surface by engineer and petroglyph conservator Sudhir Risbud paved the way for new research and a new chapter in the prehistoric past of the Konkan region was opened. Over the next 25 years, Risbud and his friend Dhananjay Marathe explored other unknown sites and discovered 42 geoglyphs in the area. This endeavour was sponsored by a large number of enthusiasts and volunteers who contributed to the research, making it an outstanding example of citizen archaeology.
The Maharashtra government became aware of these outstanding geoglyphs in 2012 thanks to the work of Risbud and others, and by 2019 there were 52 sites with 1,000 geoglyphs. The state government declared these “Geoglyphs of Konkan Region,” which will be inscribed on the UNESCO tentative World Heritage List in 2022, as “protected monuments” last Sunday.
About 1,500 geoglyphs scattered along the 900 km long Konkan coast are a symbol of a rich cultural landscape. This is also by far the largest concentration of geoglyphs in the laterite plateaus of the Konkan region. Jambhrun has 50 geoglyphs and Kasheli has about 70-80 figures carved into the outline of a huge elephant found along with a microlith deposit (confirming its age). Besides these two sites, Ukshi, Devihasol, Rundhe Tali, Devache Gothane and Kudopi have also yielded excellent examples of geoglyphs. Barsu, however, has the largest concentration of geoglyphs in the Konkan coastal belt with 62 geoglyphs.
At Barsu, one of the geoglyphs depicts a figure with two leaping tigers, covering an area of 17.5 by 4.5 meters. The four-meter-tall man is depicted with his arms raised, as if trying to keep the tigers at bay. The tigers are stylized in rectangular shapes with their mouths wide open. Despite their aggressive posture, they appear very static. Next to the human torso are figures of a fish, a rabbit and a peacock, while the depictions on the other side of the body are rusted beyond recognition. Scientists have found parallels between this composition and a motif found on at least two seals from the archaeological sites of the Harappan civilization – Harappa and Mohenjo Daro.
Read also: The cities of the Harappa dynasty had remarkable drainage systems. Delhi can learn a lot from them
Largest geoglyph in the world
An article published in Archaeological research in Asia, by independent French researchers Carlo and Yohann Oetheimer in 2021 reported on eight geoglyph sites in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. They surveyed the area using Google Earth and drone imagery which confirmed the existence of extensive geometric lines near Boha village. In addition, the researchers noticed a giant spiral next to an atypical serpentine drawing, both connected by a cluster of winding lines. These geoglyphs are spread over 20.8 hectares, with more than half of the 48 km long lines documented. The lines are engraved into the ground about 10 cm deep and 20 to 50 cm wide. Interestingly, three memorial stones have also been placed at key points along the geoglyphs.
These are the largest geoglyphs in the world to date. The current record is held by Marree Man in Australia.
These geoglyphs from Rajasthan are the largest, but not the oldest. Researchers estimate that they are only 150 years old.
Apart from the Thar Desert, geoglyphs have recently been reported from Karnataka. Kollur Region in Udupi district, where a large abstract pattern with Tulu script was discovered in 2019. More recently, a 3,000 years old An Iron Age geoglyph circle was discovered in Medchal-Malkajgiri district of Telangana.
This is just the beginning of this new era of discoveries, full of curiosity. Although the identification of this new form of cultural material has only just begun, researchers have yet to determine its chronology and its connection with society. Ethnoarchaeological data could shed some light on its interactions with humans.
New discoveries undoubtedly bring with them the risk of destruction and conservation difficulties, as was the case with the Barsu geoglyphs in 2019 when certain areas of Barsu and Solgaon were declared industrial zones. While the government was able to overturn this decision, it has highlighted the need for new policies to protect these ancient sites.
Disha Ahluwalia is an archaeologist and Junior Research Fellow at the Indian Council of Historical Research. She tweets at @ahluwaliadisha. Her views are personal.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)
