GHATLA ROCK SHELTERS

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Speleologically unexplored three painted rock-shelters at Ghatla, and one at Gopalpur (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 39, 40) possibly consist of true caves with a dark, if not aphotic or stygian zone. SITUATION 1985: Ghatla (77°00' E 23°23'N) on the Raisen - Sanchi road, 7 km from Raisen (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 39). POSITION 1985: The obviously erroneous position Ghatla (77°00' E 23°23'N) (IAR 1982-83 / 1985: 39) indicates a spot which lies at linear distances of 80 km west of Raisen (23°20'N: 77°48'E) and 75 km WSW from Sanchi (23°29'N: 077°44'E). A location near the Sanchi road, 7 km from Raisen (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 39) suggests a position near (±1 km) 23°23'30”: 77°45' (AMS sheet NF43-04 Bhopal, U502 series, 1959 edition). CULTURAL HISTORY -- rock art: All the figures were painted in light red and chrome orange colours depicting elephants, wild boars, deers [sic! deer, Cervidae], huners and boxes. No extinct animals were found in the painting while recent potsherds and microliths were found on the floor. Buddhist structures near the shelters were not useful in assigning an age to the paintings because the Buddhist syndrome was nowhere a subject of the paintings. Depiction of metal implements, wooden objects and costumes suggested a very late, i.e. historical date (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 39-40).