Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it. Amidst a maze of rocks tucked in the Aravalli mountain ranges of Haryana, a team of archaeologists discovered cave paintings they believe belong to the Upper Palaeolithic age. The cave paintings have been discovered just outside the national capital and a stone’s throw away from a holy grove called Mangar Bani- the region’s only surviving patch of primary forest. While the residents of the villages have been familiar with the paintings for ages, the Haryana government’s museum and archaeology department took note of them just recently. A fact-finding team was sent to the area in the last week of June. The team came across cave paintings comprising images of human figurines, animals, foliage, and geometric drawings. While some have paled over time, others are still very visible. They also discovered rock art and open-air ceremonial sites. Banani Bhattacharyya, deputy director of the department of archaeology and museums informed, “So far, cave paintings in Delhi-NCR have only been found here. The paintings are yet to be dated but at least some of them belong to the Upper Palaeolithic period in all likelihood. We are viewing the paintings in continuation with the Soanian culture which has been found in Shivalik hills, Narmada and Aravallis.” Most of the cave paintings found were in ochre colour, but some were in white. As per experts, cave paintings in white are usually from a later stage (early contemporary era), while Stone Age paintings are more often than not in ochre. “Stone age paintings generally use red and ochre colours. Stones of these colour used to be available locally and inhabitants crushed the stones for preparing the colour for paintings,” added Bhattacharyya. The Upper Paleolithic Age began around 40,000 years ago and lasted till around 10,000 years ago. While yet to be established through archaeological dating, Bhattacharyya says the Mangar cave art is 20,000-40,000 years old. Bhattacharyya claimed that the discovery is extremely significant. “Starting from the Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic then Upper Palaeolithic, we see the evolution here. We have found significant remains from Lower Palaeolithic till Middle and Upper Palaeolithic period too,” she explained. “Though tools from the Palaeolithic Age have been identified earlier in parts of the Aravallis, it is for the first time that cave paintings and rock art of a large magnitude have been found in Haryana,” she added.
Most of the cave paintings found in Mangar forest area in Haryana are in which colour?
Understanding the Colour of Mangar Cave Paintings
The question asks about the predominant colour of the cave paintings discovered in the Mangar forest area in Haryana, as described in the provided passage.
To answer this, we need to carefully read the passage and find the sentence that mentions the colours of the paintings.
The passage states:
- "Most of the cave paintings found were in ochre colour, but some were in white."
This sentence directly tells us the colour that is most commonly found among the paintings at the site. It indicates that while some paintings were white, the majority were in ochre colour.
Furthermore, the passage quotes an expert, Banani Bhattacharyya, who adds context about Stone Age paintings:
- "Stone age paintings generally use red and ochre colours."
- "Stones of these colour used to be available locally and inhabitants crushed the stones for preparing the colour for paintings."
This additional information reinforces that ochre was a common colour used in ancient cave paintings, consistent with the discovery at Mangar.
Based on the explicit statement in the passage, the majority of the cave paintings found in the Mangar forest area are in ochre colour.
Revision Table: Key Details from the Passage
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Location of Discovery | Aravalli mountain ranges of Haryana, near Mangar Bani |
| Believed Age | Upper Palaeolithic age (20,000-40,000 years old, likely) |
| Types of Discoveries | Cave paintings, rock art, open-air ceremonial sites |
| Content of Paintings | Human figurines, animals, foliage, geometric drawings |
| Most Common Colour | Ochre |
| Other Colour Mentioned | White (usually from a later stage) |
Additional Information: Cave Paintings and the Palaeolithic Age
Cave paintings are a form of parietal art found on the walls or ceilings of caves and rock shelters. They are among the earliest known forms of human artistic expression. The Palaeolithic Age, also known as the Old Stone Age, is a prehistoric period distinguished by the original development of stone tools. It spans from about 3 million years ago to around 10,000 years ago.
- Lower Palaeolithic: The earliest period, characterised by basic stone tools like handaxes.
- Middle Palaeolithic: Associated with early humans like Neanderthals; tools became more refined.
- Upper Palaeolithic: The period when anatomically modern humans became prevalent; marked by significant advancements in tool technology, art (like cave paintings), and cultural practices. The Mangar paintings are believed to belong to this later stage.
The colours used in ancient cave paintings were often derived from natural pigments readily available in the environment. Ochre, which can range from yellow to brown or red, is a natural clay earth pigment containing hydrated iron oxide. Its widespread availability and stability made it a popular choice for ancient artists.
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