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Kethavaram caves

 

In news:

  • Kethavaram caves are all set to get a facelift for entering the prestigious list of world heritage sites of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) by next year.

 

About Kethavaram caves:

  • The caves, located at Kethavaram of Orvakal mandal, are home to rock art which dates to the Palaeolithic age.
  •  Paintings of deer, bulls, foxes, rabbits, and humans made by ancient inhabitants of the caves have been a hit among locals for a while now.
  • The Ketavaramrock painting's are dated back to the Paleolithic era.
  • However, minimal connectivity has proven to be a concern. The district authorities have made proposals to lay new roads leading to the caves and are planning to begin work soon.
  • The District Water Management Agency (DWMA) would see to it that avenue plantations happen promptly, and conservation works would be taken care of by the Archaeology department.
  • The authorities are planning to approach UNESCO in 2020 to get proper certifications. They expect that with proper publicity, the Kethavaram caves would become a major attraction and in turn generate jobs for the locals.

 

Kethavaram rock paintings

  • kethavaram rock paintings the thematicemphase an animal's in the rock paintings at kethavaram.
  • The group of pictures depicted the lifestyle of pre-historic man. The animals which found prominently among the figures are deer, stag, antelope, hyena, rabbit, reptile and frog. 
  • Historical paintings of this phase occur in only one rock shelter and they comprise 5paitend.
  • Though paintings have survived the vagaries of nature for over 5,000 years, it might not be so in future with increased human activity disturbing the ambience.
  • Large-scale quarrying has been taking place day in day out in the vicinity by pulverizing rocks for various applications. 
  • Increased presence of humans, excessive use of chemicals in the area, atmospheric pollution, acid rain and other environmental changes can prove to be bane of the historic site. 
  • The hunting dance is painted visibly at many places which is considered the source of early belief system. Tribal head performed various rituals before going for hunting praying the tribal gods for a good catch. 
  • However, The pre-historic rock paintings have been under stress due to weathering.
  • The rainwater washing down over paintings caused erosion. 

 

Source)
 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/kethavaram-caves-set-to-emerge-from-shadows/article29739300.ece