CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF ROCK CAVE ART AT KUMATTIPATTI - A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Rock arts are ancient, human-made markings or paintings made on natural stone. India is the storehouse of the world's largest and richest rock art. Rock art reflects humanity’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage as a civilized society. It also serves as a historical record detailing the hunting habits and ways of life of the local communities. But this rich cultural heritage has to be conserved and preserved for future generations. The need for conservation arises due to many factors, like weathering and the activities of the men who scribble on such rock paintings. The present study focuses on the preservation of rock cave paintings at Kumattipatti, located in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.