Daraki-Chattan Cave, Madhya Pradesh: Acheulian Petroglyph Site, c. 200,000 - 500,000 BP / n) dcnowalldeep

Looking into the cave, the left (north) wall with cupules.

Tentative interpretation (James Harrod). Compare this image to the previous. Here again I sugggest that the pattern of rock formation along the wall evokes a row of two or three 'elephants', just as does the opposite wall. Again, because of the perspective, this furthest rounded shape in the back of the cave gives the strongest suggestion of a representation of an 'elephant'. The previous image of the right wall provides an even clearer 'elephant' image. When one is actually in the cave the feeling of being between a row of 'elephants' is astounding.

Photo © James Harrod or as otherwise noted. All James Harrod site photos taken on tour of Bhimbetka, International Rock Art Congress - 2004, Rock Art Society of India, 12/4/2004. This gallery first posted 10/17/2006.