The Hindu, January 7, 2015
As per
isolated studies conducted so far, there are 21 cave paintings of red
ochre in this Kerala-Tamil Nadu region, a senior official of the Kerala
Forest Department told The Hindu. Over 50 caves, situated in the
forest belt, are believed to be of the prehistoric period. The cave
paintings in Ezhuthala and Attala in Marayur sandal division, the most
noted ones, were in more danger.
The official said
the rock paintings were in the eastern slope of the Western Ghats, at
around 3,000 metres above sea level. The sandy rocks were highly prone
to degeneration, he said, adding that they needed new methods of
protection. Without assured protection, visitors could not be allowed
entry there, he added. Rocks were in bad shape in the Madathala cave at
Alampertty in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, which was accessible to
visitors.
The first cave painting in Marayur was
identified in Ezhuthala Madi on the Tamil Nadu border by Padmanabhan
Thampi as part of his research paper in 1974. In 2009-10, archaeological
researchers Benny Kurien and Dhanushkody documented the paintings in
Ezhuthala, where the largest number of paintings was identified.
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