Bihar: What Thousands-of-Years-Old Rock Paintings Discovered in Jamui's Giddheshwar Hills Tell Us? Govt Prepares for Conservation
Patna: Following the discovery of thousands-of-years-old rock paintings in the Giddheshwar hills of Bihar's Jamui district, the Bihar government has become proactive in taking steps toward their conservation. These ancient rock paintings were discovered within the rock shelters of the Giddheshwar hills around 2022.
These paintings are believed to date back to a period ranging from the Neolithic era to the Early Historical period. The survey and documentation of this discovery were conducted by a team from the Jamui Forest Department. The Bihar government intends to conserve these rock paintings; furthermore, they will also be utilized for research purposes.
Divisional Forest Officer Tejas Jaiswal stated that work on the conservation of these paintings would commence shortly.
It is noteworthy that the prehistoric era refers to the period before the existence of written history. During this time, humans relied on stone tools. The Neolithic period is generally considered to span from approximately 10,000 BCE to 2,000 BCE. It was during this era that humans began practicing agriculture, domesticating animals, and settling permanently in one place. People of that era expressed their lives and their surrounding environment through rock paintings.
Human civilization flourished in this region long ago
During the survey, several such man-made rock paintings were discovered at various locations within the Giddheshwar hills. These paintings depict human activities as well as wild animals. These images serve as evidence that a human civilization flourished in this region long ago and that its cultural heritage has been remarkably rich. Necessary measures will be undertaken to preserve this discovery and promote it, thereby ensuring that future generations, too, can witness this heritage.
The survey was led by Divisional Forest Officer Tejas Jaiswal, with contributions from other team members, including Mithilesh Kumar, Dipu Ravidas, and Dhirendra Kumar.