Hyderabad: History enthusiasts have discovered prehistoric rock shelters, rare paintings, stone tools, pottery and other archaeological remains at Indrapalanagaram in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district. Indrapalanagaram is known as an early capital of the Vishnukundins, who ruled parts of modern-day Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha from the 5th to the 7th century CE.Matti Foundation researchers, including Reddy Ratnakar Reddy, said they identified previously undocumented rock shelters associated with prehistoric human habitation at Shankaram Gutta. They estimated that some of the evidence could date back around 10,000 years.Links To Kakatiya PeriodThey also found faded red paintings on a large exposed rock opposite the path leading to the Yellamma temple on the hill. Ratnakar Reddy said the paintings were exposed to the elements and had no natural shade, making their survival unusual. The team found that a layer of traditional lime mortar was first applied to the rock and the red paintings were done over it.The Pancheshwara temple at the foot of the hill is believed to have been built during the period of Kakatiya ruler Rudrama Devi. On that basis, the researchers believe the paintings could also belong to that period. Prehistoric Tools & Pottery At PatigaddaThe team said soil excavated at Patigadda during MGNREGA yielded microlithic tools, Neolithic stone axes, grinding stones from the Megalithic period and fragments of pottery.Matti Foundation said further evidence, including black, red and grey pottery, painted pottery, vessels with a gold-coloured lustre, ivory bangles and beads, was found in excavations carried out at a depth of 0.9 metres at Patigadda below Shankaram Gutta.They also reported evidence of dolmen burials on the hill and megalithic burial structures, locally referred to as ‘rakshasa gullus’, below it. The team identified an inscription lying in two pieces in front of a temple dating to the Rashtrakuta period. It also found an ancient ruined temple with pillars bearing two short inscriptions.At another ruined temple, a Rashtrakuta-period inscription appears to have been reused as construction material. Jain Tirthankara sculptures were also found to the south of Shankaram Gutta, while another inscription was noticed on a rock opposite the sculptures.He urged the archaeology department to undertake further excavations at Indrapalanagaram.
