15-05-2025
Medieval rock art site discovered in Mahabubnagar
Hyderabad: A new rock art site, believed to be from the medieval period, has been discovered at Peddagutta in Jeenugarala village of
Mahabubnagar
district.
The red pigment paintings, found by Kavali Chandrakanth, a member of the Kotha Telanganacharitrabrundam, show a sequence that includes a human figure at the bottom, a square turtle figure above and vertical ladder-like lines near a chariot-shaped structure when viewed from bottom to top.
According to Bandi Muralidhar Reddy and Sriramoju Haragopal, fellow researchers from the same historical group, these paintings belong to the historical period, specifically the Middle Ages.
The markings, in which one figure appears to be embedded in another, suggests that the site may once have served as a sacred space for a local community.
Signs of early settlements near rock art
Alongside the painted rocks, remnants of
ancient human habitation
have been observed nearby, including burial traces and early settlements.
Chandrakanth notes that further exploration could lead to significant insights into prehistoric human activity in the region.
Telangana is home to over a hundred rock art sites, many dating back to the Mesolithic period. Often created using natural dyes mixed with tree resins and animal fats, these artworks depict daily life — hunting, dancing and ritual scenes — on rock outcrops, cave ceilings and shelters. Unlike painted works, bruisings were carved with stone tools.
Notable sites in areas such as Pandavulagutta have even revealed 'x-ray' style paintings depicting internal organs, a rare artistic expression in
prehistoric rock art
. The newly discovered Jeenugarala site now adds another piece to Telangana's growing archive of ancient visual culture.
