PUDUKKOTTAI: Four caverns of different sizes, said to be the abode of prehistoric man (2500-3000 BC), was discovered at the foothill of the 17th century Thirumayam fort. According to historian J Raja Mohamad, who headed a group of researchers in the discovery, said the ancient rock art paintings found in one of the caverns would play a significant role in digging into the history of Pudukkottai district.
The first cavern, which spans from west to east, is filled with debris to an extent of 10 feet, while the second cavern, relatively smaller, is raised to a certain height from the ground so that it could accommodate a few people.
Entry to the third and the fourth caverns are closed with masonry work. Sources said the caverns, until now, evaded the public eye due to soil accumulation. The team led by Raja Mohamad, who is the president of Pudukkottai Historical and Cultural Research Centre, comprised V Muthu Kumar, assistant archaeologist, ASI, G Karunakaran, research scholar, Tamil University, . "Ancient rock art paintings were found at the second cavern.
The red ochre paintings have mostly faded out. Human sketches could be identified from what remains of the paintings," said Mohamad. Paintings of human hands were also found. Human hand paintings were found in caverns in France, Spain and Indonesia that dates back to nearly 40,000 years.
Such paintings were found in the rock art panel in Sethavarai, Villupuram district, and also at Thirumayam in the state. A team led by Raja Mohamad had in fact discovered a panel of rock paintings in 2001 in a boulder in the same hillock. Sources said efforts are on to open the third and the fourth caverns. The third cavern is said to be biggest of the four discoveries.