The Zoo Rock is the most famous shelter at the prehistoric art site Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, India. It contains depictions of up to 250 distinct species of animals, most of which are dated to the Mesolithic period. The Bhimbetka rock shelters were discovered in 1957 while the Zoo Rock shelter within it was discovered in 1971-72.
Table of Contents
S1 – Discovery
The Bhimbetka rock shelters are located in the Raisen District in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. They are about 45 km south-east of the state capital Bhopal. In 1957, while on his way to the city of Nagpur in a train, Indian archaeologist Dr. Vishnu Wakankar noticed these structures. They were similar to other prehistoric sites he had studied in France and Spain. The accidental discovery was followed by an expedition of a team of archaeologists led by Wakankar.
The site Bhimbetka is named after Bhim, the second brother among the Pandavas in the Mahabharata. It is believed that Bhim rested here after being exiled from his kingdom along with his brothers. Its name roughly translates to ‘Bhim’s Resting Place’.
Bhimbetka shelters is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which has evidence of human settlement from the Paleolithic era to the historic period. The Zoo Rock at Bhimbetka was discovered in 1971-72, also by Vishnu Wakankar. It is named after the numerous depictions of animals of various species found there.
S2 – Description
The Zoo Rock is one of the most densely populated shelters at Bhimbetka. Also known as Bhimbetka Shelter III C-50, it contains hundreds of depictions of up to 250 distinct species of animals. Among the numerous animals depicted are sambar deer, elephant, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, jackal, bear and boar. Apart from animals, there are representations of humans, birds, enclosures and also a few incomplete figures.
The size of the paintings at Bhimbetka range from a few centimeters to up to four meters tall. It has been suggested by scholars that the paintings may be depictions of the gestation cycles of different animals. Moreover, some of the paintings show animals just before they are hunted or are caught unaware by hunters. This suggests a narrative being depicted rather than simple documentation.
S3 – Age
The Bhimbetka rock shelters were inhabited more than 100,000 years ago and the art discovered there span the prehistoric paleolithic, mesolithic and historic periods. The cave paintings featured at Bhimbetka are considered to be 10,000 years old placing them in the Indian Mesolithic period.
S4 – Prehistoric Rock Art Purpose
S5 – Mesolithic Art Overview
Main Sources
S1:-
Bhowal, Upasya. (Jun 22, 2020). “Bhimbetka: An Accidental Find”. Outlook Traveller.
S2:-
(Apr 21, 2022). “Zoo Rock, Bhimbetka”. MAP Academy.
S3:-
(Dec 2, 2019). “Bhimbetka – A glimpse into the earliest traces of human life in the Indian subcontinent.” Art Fervour.