Central Idea
- Kerala Tourism has launched a project to improve civic amenities around the Edakkal Caves in Wayanad, known for its rock art from prehistoric times.
About Edakkal Caves
- The Edakkal Caves are situated in the Wayanad district of Kerala on Ambukutty Mala, a prominent hill in the region
- It is not a typical cave but rather a natural cleft, rift, or rock shelter created by a piece of rock splitting away from the main body.
- It was discovered in 1890 by Fred Fawcett, a British police official.
- The caves are also known as “Ampukuthy Mala,” with a local belief that they were created by Rama’s sons, Lava and Kusha, who struck arrows on the mountain.
Significance of the caves
- Historical Significance: The caves are historically significant as they are situated near an ancient trade route connecting the high mountains of Mysore to the ports of the Malabar Coast.
- Pictorial Writings: Inside the Edakkal Caves, there are pictorial writings believed to date back to at least 6,000 BCE during the Neolithic period.
- Unique Stone Age Carvings: The Stone Age carvings are rare and represent the only known examples from South India, which belong to the Mesolithic era.
- Cultural Significance: The petroglyphs found include depictions of human and animal figures, tools used by humans, and enigmatic symbols yet to be deciphered, indicating a rich cultural and historical heritage.
- Indus Valley Connect: Some of the paintings found in the Edakkal Caves, particularly those of a “man with jar cup,” have led to speculation about a possible connection to the Indus Valley civilization.
