RAM-CHHAJJA ROCK-SHELTERS

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Fifteen rock shelters or, perhaps, true caves with paintings and an inscription. IDENTITY: Compare the –>Ramachhajja rock shelters (GOSH, A K 1967: 14) about 5 km from Raisen on the road to Bhopal. SITUATION: Ram-chhajja (77°46'E 23°19'N) is situated on Raisen-Bhopal road, nearly 3 km southwest of Raisen [23°20'N: 77°48'E] (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 39). CAVE DESCRIPTION: Fifteen painted rock shelters were found in a range (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 39).CULTURAL HISTORY -- rock art (paintings, epigraphy): Ram-chhajja (77°46'E 23°19'N) … Animal figures comprising those of deer, tiger, wild boar, leopard, elephant and cattle (pl. 22) and human beings, hunting (pl. 24), dancing, boxing, fighting and doing agricultural work (pl. 23) were drawn in white, chrome-orange and dark red, and on the ceiling of the shelters. There were instances where archers were shown using -T- shaped arrows, which might have been bolts used to strikeat the birds. The colours were found to be superimposed (pl. 25). Sometimes figures were repainted by a different colour. In one rock-shelter, the inscription -Agatam- in the Brahmi script painted in dark red colour was found (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 39, 45 plate 22, 46 plate 23, 47 plate 24, 48 plate 25).