India
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka contain large numbers of rock paintings made by hunter-gatherers.
These natural shelters contain ca. 400 shelters. The earliest paintings are from the Mesolithic period. They are largely done in white and red and show the varied animal life of the forest environment and various aspects of the people's lives. In the local adivasi villages on the periphery of this site, remains of this tradition can still be found in the stylistic similarities with their house and handicraft decorations.
Community Perspective: Located in a peaceful area an hour’s drive south of Bhopal. Only a small part of the site is open to visitors. A signposted pathway leads you along about 15 rock shelters with paintings.
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (ID: 925)
- Country
- India
- Status
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Inscribed 2003
Site history
History of Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
- 2003: Inscribed
- Inscribed
- WHS Type
- Cultural
- Criteria
- iii
- v
Links
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- asi.nic.in — Archaeological Survey of India
- kamat.com — Link
- art-and-archaeology.com — Link
- tribuneindia.com — Link
- rediff.com — Link
News Article
- Feb. 14, 2021 timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Discovered in Bhimbetka, India’s lone fossil of world’s oldest animal
Community Information
- Community Category
- Archaeological site: Rock Art
- Cultural Landscape: Relict
Travel Information
No travel information
Recent Connections
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Perfect Inscriptions
2003 -
Chariots
The paintings include "Extinct animals … -
Erotic art
“a couple in an erotic posture”See www.…
Connections of Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
- Trivia
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Total Solar Eclipse since Inscription
21/22 July, 2009
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- History
- World Heritage Process
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Perfect Inscriptions
2003
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- Human Activity
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Hand Paintings or Hand Prints
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Hunter-gatherers
"Bhimbetka is closely associated with a hunting and gathering economy as demonstrated in the rock art and in the relicts of this tradition in the local adivasi villages on the periphery of this site." (Crit v) -
Erotic art
“a couple in an erotic posture” -
Chariots
The paintings include "Extinct animals and mysterious creatures; domesticated animals, vehicles and chariots; patterns, epigraphs and Buddhist signs of the historical period, and graphics about human processions riding dressed horses and elephants" (Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Nomination file, p. 197) -
Pictographs
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- Timeline
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Late Pleistocene
rock painting, spanning periods from the Mesolithic to the Historic (AB ev)
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News
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com 02/14/2021
- Discovered in Bhimbetka, India’s l…
Recent Visitors
View all (57)
Visitors of Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
- Alberto Rodriguez Gutierrez
- Alexander Lehmann
- amitlchoudhuryjbp
- Aspasia
- Atila Ege
- Bamse
- Bernard Joseph Esposo Guerrero
- Bin
- ChenMing
- Chen Taotao
- Cheryl
- Christer Sundberg
- Clyde
- David Marton
- Els Slots
- Erik Jelinek
- Fan Yibo
- Harry Mitsidis
- Iain Jackson
- Jarek Pokrzywnicki
- Jezza
- Joel on the Road
- Johnson Zhao
- Knut
- Kurt Lauer
- Ludvan
- Lukasz Palczewski
- Luke LOU
- Mahuhe
- marcel staron
- MaYumin
- Michael Turtle
- Mikko
- Mkandasa
- Nihal Ege
- Patrik
- Philipp Peterer
- Roman Bruehwiler
- Sergio Arjona
- Shandos Cleaver
- SHIHE HUANG
- skalec
- Solivagant
- Stanislaw Warwas
- Szucs Tamas
- Tarquinio_Superbo
- Thomas Buechler
- Thomas van der Walt
- TimAllen
- Travelure
- Vanessa Buechler
- Vincent Cheung
- Wojciech Fedoruk
- YAO WEI
- Yuri Samozvanov
- Zoë Sheng
- Zos M
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