Prehistoric Art in Odisha

This volume for the first time takes into account the Prehistoric art heritage of Odisha. As gleaned from archaeological exploration and excavation. It presents a comprehensive account of prehistoric art of Odisha in different medium such as in the bare rock surface of rock shelter, boulder, terracotta and other organic material specially in Mesolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic period. The book is the outcome of sustained research by the author in the last decade, running over to-pages of text supplemented by 38 colour plates, 6 figures, and 2 informative tables. The volume would be a useful source material for students, researchers and public at large for understanding the early art heritage of Odisha in particular and that of India in general.

Dr. Dibishada B. Garnayak, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. and P.G. Diploma in Archaeology was a Gold Medalist of Sambalpur University for securing First position in M.A in History. Before joining Archaeological Survey of India as a Deputy Superintending Archaeologist he served as an Assistant Professor in Asmara University, Eritrea and Associate Professor in Mekelle University. Ethiopia. Dr. Gamayak is a promising Field Archaeologist who has published more than a dozen of research papers in various National and International Journals based on his field works in both the African Countries he served. He also authored monograph entitled Early Historic Archaeology of Odisha, and edited a book entitled Rock Art in India. His research interests are Art, Architecture and Field Archaeology.

Odisha on the Bay of Bengal has a distinct position in the archaeological map of India. Geomorphologically the state forms a part of the Eastern Ghat geomorphic province of India. The state is drained by a number of rivers. originating from the western hills. The network of water system in the state is rich in providing suitable place for the development of early man culture, as attested by the rich archaeological vestiges extending from the Pleistocene to the recent periods.

It is against this background that legacy of prehistoric art in Odisha is discussed in the present book. Valentine Ball laid the foundation of prehistoric research in Odisha with the discovery of Palaeolithic tools in 1876. The works of P. Acharya (1923-24, Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of India 100-1); G.C. Mohapatra (1962, The Stone Age Cultures of Orissa, Deccan College, Pune): N.K. Bose and D. Sen (1948. Excavation in Mayurbhanj, Calcutta University), K.C.Tripathy (1980, Lithic Industries in India: A study of South-Western, Delhi), P.K. Behera (1989, "Archaeology of Sundargarh district with special reference to the Brahmani Valley. Orissa", unpublished Ph.D thesis. Banaras Hindu University), S.B. Ota (1986, Mesolithic Culture of the Phulbani District. Bulletin of the Deccan College Post Graduate Research Institute, 45: 47-56) and the excavations conducted by B.K. Thaper (1964, Indian Archaeology: A Review, 1961-62:36); B.K. Sinha (1993, "Excavation at Golabai Sasan". District Khurda, Orissa, Puratattva 23:48-50) S. Pradhan and P.K. Behera (1998, A Brief Report on trial Excavation at Khambeswaripali. New Aspect of History of Orissa, Vol. VIII, Sambalpur University:1-12); S. Pradhan (1999, Archaeological Investigation in the Karandi Valley, Orissa. New Aspect of History of Orissa, Vol-IX, Sambalpur University:27-41), S.Pradhan (2001, Excavation at Nuagarh, 1999-2001: A Preliminary Report, Sambalpur University (n.d)), go a long way in unravelling the prehistoric legacy in Odisha. Material culture right from the Lower Palaeolithic period to the Chalcolithic period through Middle Palaeolithic, Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic phases have been reported from different parts of the state. The pottery assemblage caring from the various explored and excavated sites of the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic periods bear unmistaken stamp of artistic expression. The excavations conducted at Golabai have yielded painted potteries in both Neolithic and Chalcolithic levels, similarly excavation conducted at Khambeswaripali, Nuagarh, Bhejidihi, Suabarei, Banga Harirajpur and Talagada have also yielded painted and engraved potteries and these engraved motifs have resemblance with rock art motifs of the caves and rock shelters. Evidence of terracotta figurines have also comes from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic levels in all the above excavation. However no scholars have paid due attention to the study of these aspect of prehistoric culture of Odisha.

The study of rock art in Odisha was initiated by K.P. Jayaswal in 1933 with the discovery of rock engravings at Vikramkhol in the present Jharsuguda district (erstwhile Sambalpur district). S. Pradhan, A. Pradhan, K. Barik and the author (2001 and 2008) documented rock art in 110 rock shelters distributed in eleven districts in Odisha. Rock art studies are gaining momentum in the recent years. However, no works deals with other various aspect of prehistoric art. In respect of the other potable art casual references are there in various exploration and excavation reports. No serious or systematic study has ever been attempted by any scholar in this regard. Hence a humble and modest endeavour has been made in this book to survey and document each and every site those have been explored and excavated in the state. The survey has brought to limelight various aspects of prehistoric art traditions that prevailed in the state with the preliterate communities of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. Also an attempt has been made to correlate and interpret some of the art motifs in cognitive context.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages