With reference to the Mesolithic art in India, consider the following statements:
1. Alexander Burns discovered the first rock paintings in India at Sohagighat in Uttar Pradesh.
2. Bhimbetka rock paintings were discovered when archaeologist V.S. Wakankar noticed the rocks out of a train window while travelling from Bhopal to Itarsi and got off at the nearest railway station to explore the site.
3. The paintings and engravings do not exist in the same shelter in the rock art of Orissa.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) 2 only.
Alexander Burns discovered the first rock paintings in India at Sohagighat in Uttar Pradesh: This statement is incorrect. The first discovery of rock paintings in India is attributed to Archibald Carlleyle, not Alexander Burns. Carlleyle discovered these paintings in the Mirzapur district (Sohagighat area) of Uttar Pradesh in the 1860s.
Bhimbetka rock paintings were discovered when archaeologist V.S. Wakankar noticed the rocks out of a train window while travelling from Bhopal to Itarsi and got off at the nearest railway station to explore the site: This statement is correct. V.S. Wakankar, an Indian archaeologist, identified the Bhimbetka rock shelters in the 1950s while on a train journey. His discovery led to extensive studies, and Bhimbetka is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The paintings and engravings do not exist in the same shelter in the rock art of Orissa: This statement is incorrect. In the rock art of Odisha, specifically in places like Gudahandi, both paintings and engravings coexist in the same shelters, demonstrating a diverse usage of artistic techniques.
Information Booster:
Mesolithic Art:
Time Period:
The Mesolithic period (Middle Stone Age) spans from about 10,000 BCE to 5,000 BCE, acting as a transitional phase between the Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) and Neolithic (New Stone Age) periods. This era saw significant changes in human lifestyles, from nomadic hunting to more settled agricultural communities.
Artistic Expression:
Mesolithic art is characterized by rock paintings and engravings, which are predominantly found in rock shelters. The art during this period shifted from large depictions of animals (common in the Paleolithic era) to more human-centric scenes that reflected daily life, such as hunting, dancing, and social activities.
Style:
The artistic style of the Mesolithic era is often more schematic and stylized compared to the more naturalistic depictions of animals seen in the Paleolithic period. Human figures are depicted in stick-like forms, often engaged in communal activities.
Themes and Subjects:
Hunting scenes dominate Mesolithic art, reflecting the importance of hunting in daily life. Weapons such as bows and arrows frequently appear in the artwork.
Other common themes include gathering, dancing, and rituals. Some scenes also show domesticated animals, signaling the gradual shift toward settled life and early domestication.
Techniques:
The Mesolithic artists used natural pigments, such as red ochre, charcoal, and white chalk, to create these paintings. The art is often found in rock shelters, which provided natural protection from the elements, preserving the artwork over millennia.
Examples of Mesolithic Art:
Notable Mesolithic art sites include Bhimbetka Rock Shelters in India, Altamira in Spain, and Lascaux in France. These sites have numerous paintings that showcase the transition from a Paleolithic to a Mesolithic way of life.