Ancient site · Rock art
Bhimbetka rock shelters
More than 750 rock shelters spread over seven sandstone hills in central India. People sheltered here for over 100,000 years, and some 400 shelters hold paintings in red and white.
The oldest are put at about 10,000 BCE, in the Mesolithic, and show hunting, dancing and animals such as elephants, deer and bison; later layers add riders on horseback and simple geometric designs from historic times. It is the oldest known rock art in India and one of the largest prehistoric art sites in Asia.
- Dates
- paintings c. 10,000 BCE (Mesolithic) to medieval times; occupation far older
- Still standing
- Yes
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Yes
- Location
- 22.94° N, 77.61° E
How we know
No writing; the paintings are dated by their style, by what they show and by excavated layers, so their dates are approximate.
Nearby sites
- Sanchi 3rd century BCE–12th century CE
- Ajanta Caves (early caves) early caves c. 2nd century BCE–1st century CE; second phase c. 460–480 CE
- Bharhut railings c. 125–100 BCE (some argue 1st century CE); later abandoned
- Lothal c. 2300–1900 BCE
- Sarnath c. 250 BCE–1194 CE
- Iron pillar of Delhi c. 400 CE (reign of Chandragupta II, c. 375–415 CE)