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With reference to the Mesolithic art in India, consider the following statements :
1. Alexander Burns discovered the first rock paintings in India at Sohagighat in Uttar Pradesh.
2. Bhimbetka rock paintings were discovered when archaeologist V.S. Wakankar noticed the rocks out of a train window while travelling from Bhopal to Itarsi and got off at the nearest railway station to explore the site.
3. The paintings and engravings do not exist in the same shelter in the rock art of Orissa.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

This question was previously asked in
CDS 2 2024 Maths Question Paper (01-Sep-2024)
The correct answer is
2 and 3

Mesolithic Art India: Analysing Statements on Rock Paintings

This question asks us to evaluate three statements concerning Mesolithic art in India, specifically focusing on rock paintings and their discoveries. Let's examine each statement based on historical and archaeological records.

Mesolithic Art India: Statement 1 Analysis

Statement 1 claims that Alexander Burns discovered the first rock paintings in India at Sohagighat in Uttar Pradesh. This statement is generally considered incorrect. While explorers like Alexander Burns were active in documenting Indian geography and culture, the initial discovery and documentation of rock paintings in India are often attributed to others. For instance, Archibald Carlleyle is credited with discovering paintings in the Mirzapur region of Uttar Pradesh in 1867, followed by John Cockburn in the 1880s. Sohagighat is indeed a site with rock art, but the specific claim about Alexander Burns discovering the very first paintings there is not widely supported.

Mesolithic Art India: Statement 2 Analysis

Statement 2 details the discovery of the Bhimbetka rock paintings by archaeologist V.S. Wakankar. It states that he noticed the site while travelling by train from Bhopal to Itarsi and explored it after getting off at a nearby station. This account is historically accurate and widely cited. V.S. Wakankar's accidental discovery in 1957 from a train window led to the systematic exploration and recognition of the immense archaeological significance of the Bhimbetka rock shelters, which are now a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for their extensive Mesolithic-era paintings.

Mesolithic Art India: Statement 3 Analysis

Statement 3 asserts that paintings and engravings do not coexist within the same shelter in the rock art of Orissa (now Odisha). According to the context provided by the question and its correct answer, this statement is considered true. This implies that the Mesolithic rock art sites in Orissa, as understood in the source material for this question, typically feature either paintings or engravings in a specific rock shelter, but not both types within the same spatial context. While prehistoric art traditions can be diverse, this statement highlights a specific characteristic attributed to Orissa's rock art heritage in this context.

Conclusion on Mesolithic Art Statements

Based on the analysis:

  • Statement 1 is incorrect.
  • Statement 2 is correct.
  • Statement 3 is correct (within the context implied by the question).

Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3.

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