The Rocks Just Seemed….Odd
Farmers in Ratnagiri noticed unusual indentations across the laterite plateaus. They looked nothing like plow marks or natural cracks. These outlines sparked curiosity, especially when villagers recognized animal shapes.
Wildlife Etched In Stone, Hidden In Plain Sight
On the Konkan laterite plateaus, petroglyphs depicting different fauna that had long gone unnoticed until local villagers began reporting them in 2018. Their efforts drew new scholarly attention to these ancient carvings, which had been hiding in plain sight.
Katalshilp - Petroglyphs by Kirloskar Vasundhara
Sudhir Risbud And Nisarga Yatri Sanstha Begin Documentation
Local explorer Sudhir Risbud, backed by his Nisarga Yatri Sanstha team, began systematic recording. They mapped plateaus, took photographs of figures, and traced outlines. And guess what? They accomplished it without government resources, relying solely on community enthusiasm for the catalog process.
Sudhir risbud, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Early Assumptions: Sacred Footprints Of Local Deities
Before science entered the story, villagers thought the depressions were divine footprints. Devotees even offered prayers at chosen spots. Ancient rock art, carved thousands of years before any shrine, became draped in spiritual traditions, its surfaces reimagined through mythology.
Biswarup Ganguly, Wikimedia Commons
Formal Exploration Of Sites Begins Around 2012
In 2012, exploration shifted from casual curiosity to structured study. Teams began counting, sketching, and geotagging carvings across Ratnagiri. By combining aerial photography with ground-level surveys, they confirmed that more than chance markings existed.
Mapping Ratnagiri Geoglyphs with Q6 V2 Geo | ideaForge by ideaForgeTechnology
Systematic Surveys Expanded Between 2014 And 2016
Between 2014 and 2016, surveys stretched beyond Ratnagiri into neighboring districts. Researchers confirmed over 70 sites, many hidden under vegetation or soil. The Konkan coast contained not a handful but a constellation of petroglyph fields.
An Elephant Incription Was The Largest Petroglyph
On the Kasheli plateau lies an elephant engraving stretching 59 feet (18 meters)—the length of two school buses. Inside its outline, dozens of smaller animals form a stone encyclopedia. This colossal composition ranks among South Asia’s largest petroglyphs.
Katalshilp Rock Art | Maharashtra Tourism by HISTORY TV18
The Elephant Wasn’t The Only Marking
Closer inspection uncovers dozens of figures—fish, deer, and birds—drawn within the elephant’s frame. For archaeologists, the dense imagery inside one animal transforms the carving into a catalog of the region’s vanished ecosystem. These weren’t the only finds because…
Katalshilp Rock Art | Maharashtra Tourism by HISTORY TV18
There Were Over 1,500 Engravings Found Across Maharashtra And Goa
Tallying the sites revealed staggering numbers: more than 1,500 engravings across Maharashtra’s Konkan region and extending into Goa. This abundance elevated the discovery beyond local significance, placing it alongside the world’s great prehistoric art concentrations in scale and diversity.
Saddas: The Flat Laterite Plateaus Where Carvings Appear
The carvings lie on laterite plateaus (saddas) along the Konkan coast—flat, reddish-brown surfaces formed by prolonged weathering and leaching of basalt from the Deccan Traps. Their hardness made them resilient canvases for engravers.
Primitive Hammering Techniques Shape The Hard Rock
Archaeological analysis reveals that the engravers employed percussion methods—using stone to pound against laterite—to carve the shapes. Without chisels or metal, artisans relied on repetitive strikes. The effort required hours of labor per figure.
Ancient stone axes and hammers. by Paleo Mountain Man
Enormous Stingray Carvings Stretch Across The Rock Surface
Stingray petroglyphs, some wider than cars, dominate certain plateaus. Their presence points to close observation of marine life along Konkan’s shores. From an archaeological standpoint, carving aquatic species inland reflects ecological knowledge and perhaps ritual reverence for ocean creatures crucial to survival.
Rhinos Depicted Despite Their Absence In Modern Konkan
Among the carvings stand rhinos, a species not found in today’s Konkan terrain. What does this tell researchers? It suggests that prehistoric habitats could have once extended to western India. This is valuable paleoenvironmental evidence, linking rock art to changing distributions of megafauna.
Petroglyphs : Wonders from the Past | Maharashtra Tourism by Maharashtra Tourism
Tigers, Boars, And Monkeys Show Prehistoric Fauna Knowledge
Tigers stride across slabs, boars crouch mid-charge, and monkeys perch in profile. Each figure highlights an intimate familiarity with local wildlife, as it captures animal behavior and appearance long before written descriptions existed.
Rock Art of Ratnagiri by SURAJ MALIK
Turtles And Sharks Suggest Ancient Coastal Environments
Thought we were done? Oh no! There were also turtles and sharks found carved into the plateaus, and this illustrates coastal ecosystems that thrived thousands of years ago. These figures preserve ecological data carved directly into stone. Birds also appeared.
Ratnagiri Petroglyphs 2 by Amar Reddy
Detailed Bird Figures Include Peacocks And Large Unidentified Species
Birds, such as fan-tailed peacocks and unidentified large birds, were also found on many surfaces. Their accuracy hints at keen observation. Avian motifs provide insights into symbolic thinking, with species possibly chosen for plumage, flight, or predatory power within prehistoric cultural frameworks.
Rare Human Figures Face Wild Animals In The Rock
Human forms are scarce yet striking, often positioned opposite large animals. This placement may indicate the presence of hunting scenes or symbolic encounters. Their scarcity magnifies their significance, marking them as purposeful additions.
Rock Art of Ratnagiri by SURAJ MALIK
Spirals And Circles Suggest Abstract Or Ritual Motifs
Alongside animals appear spirals, concentric circles, and geometric patterns. These are abstract motifs, frequently linked to ritual expression in global rock art traditions. The fact that they are repeated across Konkan sites strengthens the case for symbolic systems preceding formal writing.
Absence Of Domesticated Animals Indicates Hunter-Gatherer Origins
None of the carvings show cattle, plows, or cultivated fields. Only wild animals fill the panels. The striking absence aligns with the hunter-gatherer subsistence pattern. The Konkan petroglyphs likely document a society existing before the rise of settled farming.
Rock Art of Ratnagiri by SURAJ MALIK
Lack of Farming Scenes Aligns With Mesolithic Culture
Every documented panel omits farming imagery. This consistency across 70+ sites demonstrates that agriculture had not yet emerged. Maharashtra’s Directorate of Archaeology highlighted this fact as evidence of a pre-agricultural cultural phase.
Extinct Or Migrated Species Strengthen Prehistoric Timeline
Carvings depict rhinos and large marine animals, creatures absent from modern Konkan ecosystems. As we know, the world changes, and so their inclusion highlights different environments from those of today. In 2018, experts stressed these species as ecological markers.
konkan petroglyphs | Prathamesh Palav by Prathamesh Palav
Diverse Designs Hint At Symbolic Prehistoric Thinking
Researchers recorded differently shaped motifs drawn into plateaus, intricate despite the crude tools used. Their geometry recalls symbolic systems seen worldwide. The 2018 report highlighted spirals among the Konkan petroglyphs and noted their symbolic parallels with similar motifs worldwide.
Petroglyphs : Wonders from the Past | Maharashtra Tourism by Maharashtra Tourism
Massive Carvings Best Viewed From Elevated Or Aerial Angles
Many figures stretch dozens of feet, difficult to fully perceive at ground level. Drone surveys revealed entire stingrays and elephants visible only from above. Media coverage in 2018 likened this vastness to Nazca’s geoglyphs, though the comparison was metaphorical rather than an academic conclusion.
Preserving Konkan’s Ancient Petroglyphs | SHRI Initiative by IITM Pravartak
Microlithic Stone Tools Anchor The Konkan Petroglyphs
At Rundhye Tali and other sites, researchers uncovered microliths—tiny blades used by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. Their direct association with the carvings provides rare archaeological proof, firmly linking the Konkan engravings to India’s prehistoric toolkit and timeline.
Surrey County Council, David Williams, 2005-11-15 12:22:32, Wikimedia Commons
Radiocarbon Dating Of Microliths Places Them 10,000–20,000 Years Ago
Carbon samples taken from soil layers around tools returned Mesolithic dates. The Maharashtra State Archaeology Department confirmed hunting lifestyles matched the imagery. These results were first shared in 2018, grounding the carvings in pre-agricultural timeframes consistent with other South Asian Mesolithic finds.
How Old is that Rock? by Earth Sciences New Zealand
Weathering Of Laterite Surfaces Suggests Millennia Of Exposure
Centuries of monsoon rains and relentless sun have inscribed deep weathering marks into the laterite surfaces. Experts point to this erosion as evidence of antiquity. Media discussions in 2018 highlighted how such elemental scars suggest the Mesolithic period.
Ratnagiri Petroglyphs by Wandering Naren
Carvings Predate The Indus Valley Civilization By Millennia
The Indus Valley Civilization flourished between approximately 3300 and 1300 BCE. Konkan petroglyphs, dated to 10,000 years or more, precede it by several millennia. These artistic expressions thrived in India long before the emergence of urban settlements, such as Mohenjo-Daro.
Sara jilani, Wikimedia Commons
Comparison With Gobekli Tepe’s Animal Depictions Emerges
Observers have noted that the Konkan carvings, with their wild animals and abstract motifs lacking agricultural scenes, echo themes seen at Gobekli Tepe in Turkey, built around 9600 BCE. However, such parallels remain speculative, circulating in public discussions rather than in peer-reviewed research.
Gobekli’s T-Pillars Contrast With Konkan’s Flat Engravings
Gobekli Tepe’s massive T-shaped pillars rise vertically from the earth, carved with high-relief animals. In contrast, Konkan’s images are marked flat onto open rock surfaces. The difference highlights two distinct methods of expression within roughly the same prehistoric time span.
Beytullah eles, Wikimedia Commons
Nazca Lines Invoked As A Parallel For Large Animal Designs
Colossal stingrays and elephants carved into Konkan’s plateaus recall the vast geoglyphs of Peru’s Nazca desert. Both transform terrains into monumental artworks best appreciated from above. Yet, the Konkan carvings predate the Nazca lines by thousands of years, representing one of humanity’s earliest ground art traditions.
Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Global Rock Art Parallels Found In Africa And Australia
Animal figures carved into laterite resemble motifs documented in African and Australian rock art. Large marine animals and turtles, for example, are found in both regions. Such parallels point to a shared prehistoric impulse: using enduring stone canvases to capture vital elements of daily survival.
Spirals Resemble European And North American Petroglyphs
Concentric spirals on the Konkan plateaus resemble motifs carved into rocks across Europe and North America strikingly. These geometric forms, inscribed thousands of years apart and on different continents, hint at a universal symbolic language that developed independently among early communities.
G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
UNESCO Adds Konkan Petroglyphs To Tentative Heritage List In 2022
In 2022, UNESCO placed the Konkan petroglyphs on its Tentative World Heritage list. This international recognition underscored their global importance, ensuring the carvings joined a roster of humanity’s most valued cultural treasures, alongside places like Stonehenge and Lascaux Cave.
Directorate Of Archaeology In Maharashtra Confirms Mesolithic Origins
The state’s archaeology department linked the carvings with a Mesolithic lifestyle based on hunting and gathering. That conclusion came from animal imagery, stone tools, and the absence of farming scenes. This official confirmation marked a turning point in bringing Konkan carvings into the academic spotlight.
Ratnagiri Petroglyphs by Amar Reddy
Local Communities Advocate For Preservation Of Open Sites
Villagers and activists launched preservation drives, fencing off carvings and campaigning for recognition. Their grassroots work helped prevent damage from construction and farming. Without this community involvement, many carvings might still remain hidden or at risk of irreversible erosion.
Carvings Left Unprotected For Centuries Until Rediscovery
Before 2012, most petroglyphs were exposed to the elements like monsoons, grazing cattle, and soil erosion. Only a handful of villages were aware of their existence. Rediscovery revealed that these engravings had survived for thousands of years without formal protection, thanks to the durability of the laterite rock.
Rundhye Tali Cited For High Concentration Of Symbolic Motifs
Rundhye Tali plateau is dense with geometric designs—spirals and circles—interspersed with animal figures. The unusual concentration of abstract motifs has prompted speculation that the site held ritual or symbolic significance, though such interpretations remain hypotheses rather than established archaeological consensus.
Rutwij Apte, Wikimedia Commons
Geoglyphs Reveal Prehistoric Ecosystem Resembling African Savannas
Engravings of animals indicate a richer habitat once covering western India. The variety mirrors that of African savannas, where large mammals coexist. These depictions offer ecological evidence of landscapes that have long vanished from the modern Konkan coast.
Petroglyphs : Wonders from the Past | Maharashtra Tourism by Maharashtra Tourism
Hypothesis Of Sacred Landscapes Without Permanent Villages
Excavations reveal no farming terraces or house foundations near the carvings. Instead, open plateaus appear to have served as gathering spaces. Communities likely returned seasonally, marking these natural rock stages with imagery tied to ritual, storytelling, and shared identity.
Petroglyphs : Wonders from the Past | Maharashtra Tourism by Maharashtra Tourism
Cultural Memory Preserved Through Rock Instead Of Writing
Long before clay tablets or papyrus, stone itself held memory. The Konkan carvings stored information about beliefs and environments. They acted as durable records to ensure knowledge endured across generations without the need for alphabets or formal scripts.
Matsyameena sanju, Wikimedia Commons
Threats From Modern Development Endanger Carving Sites
Expanding roads, farms, and construction projects now approach the ancient plateaus. Heavy machinery and land leveling place engravings at risk. Protective fencing and awareness campaigns remain vital to keep these prehistoric masterpieces intact for future generations.
UNESCO Criteria (I), (III), And (IV) Justify Cultural Significance
When UNESCO placed the Konkan carvings on its Tentative List, it applied criteria (i), (iii), and (iv). Criterion (i) recognizes them as a masterpiece of human creative genius; criterion (iii) highlights their testimony to an ancient cultural tradition; and criterion (iv) situates them within a significant stage of human history.
Kingshuk Mondal, Wikimedia Commons
Konkan Discoveries Fill A Prehistoric Gap In Western India
Before their recognition, western India’s record of Mesolithic activity was thin. The petroglyphs bridge that void, connecting Paleolithic cave art like Bhimbetka with later Neolithic villages. They form a missing link in the region’s long cultural and chronological chain.
Raveesh Vyas, Wikimedia Commons
Scientific Debate: Civilization Or Complex Hunter-Gatherers?
Experts remain divided: were these engravers an organized civilization or advanced foragers with symbolic traditions? The sheer number, scale, and consistency of the carvings blur conventional categories to fuel discussion about how sophistication should be defined in prehistoric contexts.
George Catlin, Wikimedia Commons
India’s Rock Carvings Urge A Rethink Of Civilizational Timelines
Konkan’s petroglyphs, older than Egypt’s pyramids or Mesopotamia’s temples, shift timelines of global heritage. They demonstrate that complex symbolic expressions flourished in India thousands of years before the Indus Valley Civilization, recasting our understanding of early human creativity.
Ricardo Liberato, Wikimedia Commons
