DARA ki CHATTAN
25.716700,76.183300
Description
A comparatively short, daylight-lit rift cave in quartzite is noteworthy insofar as the walls bear a number of 498 (KUMAR, G 1996) or over 500 (James Harrod, originsnet.org accessed 2007.12.12) cupules (cupolae) and was found in October 1993 to yield Acheulian and Middle Palaeolithic lithic tools right on the surface of its floor deposit. ETYMOLOGY: The over-cave-named »Daraki Chattan Cave« (literally: Cave of Chattan Cave) of Indian and Australian antiquarians and archaeologists is meant to say Dara-ki-Chetan or Dara ki Chetan and means "door" (gate or entrance, hence cave) of / at »Chattan« or Chetan (note 1). SITUATION: James Harrod (originsnet.org/darakigallery/index.htm - accessed 2007.12.12) suggests to »See location on map of associated central India rock art sites, Bhimbetka gallery« and places »Daraki-Chattan Cave« on one Indragarh Hill (note 2) in Bhanpura tehsil (note 3), Mandsaur district. It overlooks a tributary (note 4) to the Chambal River (note 5) near the Gandhi Sagar Reservoir (note 6). CAVE DESCRIPTION s.a. 1: »Daraki-Chattan Cave is a small, narrow and deep cave« (James Harrod, originsnet.org/darakigallery/index.htm accessed 2007.12.12). CAVE DESCRIPTION s.a. 2: »A small narrow cleft in the tall cliff faces the valley of the Rewa« (bradshawfoundation.com/india/magazine.html accessed 2007.12.12). CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: Although the age of the cupules (cupola) remains to be determined, Robert G. Bednarik (originsnet.org/darakigallery/index.htm accessed 2007.12.12) suggests there is a possibility that it might match the petroglyphs of the Auditorium Cave (22°55'30”N: 77°36'30”E near Bhimbetka , Raisen district) and thus dates them to circa 200'000 to 500'000 BP.For the comprehensive research report and analysis of the Daraki-Chattan petroglyphs see Bednarik R G, Kumar G, Watchman A and Roberts R G (2005). Preliminary results of the EIP [Early Indian Petroglyphs] Project. Rock Art Research 22,2:147-197; and Harrod J. (2006) Comments with Bednarik R G, Kumar G, Watchman A and Roberts R G Response, Rock Art Research 23,1:113-118. ROCK ART 1: »The cave walls bear over 500 cupules and another 28 cupules have been found on exfoliated slabs within the excavation at the cave entrance. At least two engraved grooves have been found in the excavation and stone floors« (James Harrod originsnet.org/darakigallery/index.htm - accessed 2007.12.12). ROCK ART 2: »Daraki-Chattan site … Its sides are covered with hundreds of deeply patinated cupules, 498 according to the Dr. Giriraj Kumar, who led us there and who has been excavating the slope right outside the cave (Kumar 2000/2001). In his excavations he found another cupule on a fallen rock under a 50 centimetres thick upper layer. The lower layers are all Acheulian. The discovery in theses layers of hammer stones supposed to have been used for the production of cupules was announced at the 2004 Agra Congress« (bradshawfoundation.com/india/magazine.html - accessed 2007.12.12).
NOTE 1: nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) lists only places called Chetan (or so) outside of Bhanpura tahsil and more than 100 km from Gandhi Sagar reservoir: Chetan (25°32'35”N: 75°33'57”E) 115 km in a direct line NNW of Bhanpura; Chetan ka Jhonpara (25°32'55”N: 75°32'55”E) 116 km in a direct line WSW of Bhanpura; Chetan ka Khera (25°33'15”N: 75°33'36”E) 117 km in a direct line WSW of Bhanpura.NOTE 2: »Indragarh hill« (James Harrod online: originsnet.org/darakigallery accessed 2007.12.12; KUMAR, G 1996) is not identified. nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) positions one »Indargarh« (sic!) near 25°43'N: 76°11'E and at a linear distance of 140 km NNE from Bhanpura (24°31'N: 75°44'E) at a spot where the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006) map 36 B4 shows »Indragath« (sic!) in Itawa tehsil, Kota district, Rajasthan. NOTE 3: Bhanpura, town and tehsil headquarters near 24°31'N: 75°44'E on AMS sheet NG43-15 Mandasor (U502 series, 1959 edition) and in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 53 E2). NOTE 4: This tributary (James Harrod on originsnet.org/darakigallery accessed 2007.12.12) seems to be the Rewa since »We also saw the now famous Daraki-Chattan site. We were led by Dr. Giriraj Kumar to a small narrow cleft in the tall cliff faces the valley of the Rewa« (bradshawfoundation.com/india/magazine.html accessed 2007.12.12). NOTE 5: Chambal River, mouth near 26°29'N: 79°15'E (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003), on AMS sheet NG44-05. NOTE 6: »Gandi Sagar Reservoir« (Marmelades Harod? on originsnet.org/darakigallery accessed 2007.12.12) is the Gandhi Sagar 24°30'N: 75°35'E on AMS sheet NG43-15 and in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006; 52 D2 D3, 53 E2).
Documents
Bibliography 27/03/2016History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1993 October: Giriraj KUMAR (1996) found Acheulian and Middle Palaeolithic stone tools on the floor of the »Daraki-Chattan Cave,« 2001/2002: Giriraj Kumar commenced archaeological excavation at Daraki-Chattan in 2000/2001 (bradshawfoundation.com/india/magazine.html accessed 2007.12.12) or in 2002 (originsnet.org/darakigallery accessed 2007.12.12). 2005: BEDNARIK, R G et al. (2005) give a site stratigraphy and generalized section view of the excavation.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32.8 | KUA, Bundi | ||
| 149.9 | SHIVPURI SHELTER 1 | ||
| 149.9 | SHIVPURI SHELTER 2 | ||
| 149.9 | TUNDA BHURKA KHOH | ||
| 150.0 | CHAND BAORI | ||
| 153.6 | CHORPURA SHELTERS | ||
| 159.3 | MATASULA MINE SHAFTS | ||
| 189.1 | Bandipule Cave | ||
| 192.8 | SARISKA PARK CAVE |