Department of Archaeology and Museums Assistant Director V. Chittibabu based at Visakhapatnam on Sunday said that a good number of pre-historic paintings were unearthed on ‘Thene Konda” situated at Dimmidi Jwala village in Nandigam mandal of Srikakulam district.
The paintings found on the hill resembled the pre-historic art of the upper Paleolithic period (40,000 years to 10,000 years) and depicted the figures of a lizard and an antelope in red colour.
“These motifs reveal the fact that this art indicates the early rock paintings which belonged to upper Paleolithic period. This era is pre-historic period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered by the historians,” says Mr. Chittibabu.
These paintings have been noticed in the unoccupied area of the pre-historic man probably earmarking the location or indicating the lurking dangers of the area.
“The pigment used for the prehistoric art is made of iron oxide such as hematite powder mixing with animal fats and water. This is the only early pre-historic rock paintings found in Northern Andhra Pradesh,” Mr. Chittibabu added.
He said the Department of Archaeology and Museums has approached the Andhra Pradesh State Government with a proposed to protect the hill under the AP Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1960.
