Patna: The prehistoric rock paintings dating back to Neolithic period discovered in the Giddheshwar hills of Jamui district in Bihar will be preserved by the state govt and made available to the scholars for detailed research.This was stated by a survey team of Jamui division forest officials led by divisional forest officer (DFO) Tejas Jaiswal and Patna Museum curator Ravi Shankar Gupta. Members of the team made a detailed survey of all the rock paintings found in Giddheshwar hills and emphasised the need for their proper scientific preservation.Gupta told TOI that these rock paintings dating from the Neolithic, Chalcolithic and early historic periods (10,000-2,000 BCE) were discovered in the Giddeshwar mountain of Jamui district in 2022 itself. The findings were identified during an archaeological survey conducted by a team under the direction of Gupta.He said the further archaeological investigation of these rock paintings would be continued so that more light could be shed on their historical significance. The paintings have been found in rock shelters situated within the dense forests of Giddheshar hills.Shedding light on these rock paintings, Patna University ancient Indian history and archeology department’s former head Jayadeo Mishra said these rock paintings belong to the period when human beings had started the art of farming dairying. The paintings primarily used red ochre to depict human figures, animals, birds, trees, plants, and geometric line drawings, including sun and circle motifs. Furthermore, the sites indicate that the area was used by early humans for shelter, where they created art during leisure time, he said.He further said these paintings are part of a broader prehistoric tradition in Bihar, similar to findings in Kaimur and Nawada.
