The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will launch a detailed investigation into prehistoric rock art sites in Odisha’s Sambalpur and Angul districts starting December 27. The study aims to document, preserve, and analyze ancient rock engravings and paintings believed to date back to the prehistoric and early historic periods.
According to officials, the ASI’s Bhubaneswar Circle will lead the investigation with a multidisciplinary team comprising archaeologists, conservation experts, and geochemists. The initiative follows preliminary findings that indicated the presence of unexplored petroglyphs and cave paintings across several sandstone formations in the region.
The rock shelters in Sambalpur and Angul form one of the largest and most important prehistoric rock art zones in eastern India, with dozens of caves and overhangs bearing engravings and paintings that may go back more than 10,000–15,000 years. Sambalpur district alone has 42 documented rock art sites in the reserve forests of Rail, Landimal and Luhapank‑Brahmani in the Rairakhol subdivision, accounting for about 40.38% of all known rock art shelters in Odisha. In Angul, Dantari Hill in the Kaimur range near Bamur hosts a dense concentration of rock shelters with engravings.
The shelters show both petroglyphs (engravings) and pictographs (paintings), including geometric designs, human figures, animals and hunting scenes. At some sites in the Rairakhol belt, engravings of large birds are thought to depict prehistoric ostriches or ostrich‑like creatures, which went extinct at least 15,000 years ago, suggesting very great antiquity for parts of the assemblage. Other panels in the lower Mahanadi rock shelters record anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures, fish, birds and molluscs, along with parallel lines and abstract symbols arranged in deliberate compositions.
The ASI’s upcoming work includes scientific investigation followed by digital documentation and coordinated conservation planning with forest and tourism departments, aiming to stabilise the shelters and integrate them sensitively into heritage tourism.
The survey will focus on detailed mapping, photographic documentation, and condition assessment of the sites. Conservation strategies will also be proposed to safeguard the rock art from erosion, vandalism, and environmental degradation.
Researchers suggest that these rock shelters may provide valuable insights into the life, culture, and artistic practices of early human settlements in central Odisha. The findings are expected to contribute to a broader understanding of prehistoric cultural networks across eastern and central India.
The ASI plans to collaborate with local authorities and communities to ensure the protection of the identified sites and raise awareness about their archaeological significance.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
