Usgalimal rock engravings

10,000 year old engravings on rocks by the banks of Kushavati river, in Goa's Usgalimal village tells us the story of the lives of the Kush tribe who lived there. These unique rock engravings convey important messages, of life around them. Humans have been pictorially depicting information since time immemorial.

Usgalimal rock engravings. Different Sources

The picturesque Kushavati River flows through the South Goa town of Usgalimal. Tens of thousands of years old ancient engravings have been found on its rocks. The sculptures, which date back thousands of years, are thought to be the oldest signs of human existence in India. They are considered to have originated about 8000 BC and date to the upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic era, which is also known as "the Stone Age."

This 5000 square meter site has more than 100 sculptures with significant archaeological and ethnographic value. These carvings show everyday life at that period, including men and women working on their property, kids having fun, animals, and household items. It seems as if the ancient people intended to document their existence. The carvings show a variety of facets of life at that period. Hunting is being done on injured animals, particularly bison. There is a peacock image that is well drawn on the rock's irregular surface. A degree of religious cosmology and fertility rituals are suggested by motifs of the dancing ladies and newborn children. Additionally, the rock has the imprints of enormous hoof prints and human feet. These engravings are said to have been carved by members of the "Kush" tribe, who originally lived in Goa.

They were discovered in 1993 by the locals when they cleared the riverbanks of silt, and archaeologists have since carefully investigated and analyzed them since. Contrary to carvings in other parts of the globe, those in Goa were made into the hard, unyielding surface of the laterite rock, which is widespread across the state. The fact that these intricate engravings are found on laterite rock, one of the world's hardest rocks, distinguishes this location from others.

Since the engravings were made by chipping away the rock's outer layer using some kind of tools, they are referred to as "Petroglyphs." They are far older than the rock drawings that have previously been seen in other regions of India.

The ASI has placed a sign along the side of the road for advertising. This makes it simpler to get there since the location is obscured by an abandoned iron mine and is located pretty far from the river. Although some of the sculptures could be submerged during the monsoon, the Goa Museum has reproductions. Explore this settlement on a tour to learn its ancient past mysteries.

Sources:

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