750 sites making up the Bhimbetka rock shelters have been enrolled as a UNESCO World Heritage Site the earliest paintings are some 10,000 years old. Wakankar discovered several painted rock shelters in Central India, situated around the Vindhya mountain range. The earliest rock carvings in India were discovered by Archibald Carlleyle, twelve years before the Cave of Altamira in Spain, although his work only came to light much later via J Cockburn (1899).

It is estimated there are about 1300 rock art sites with over a quarter of a million figures and figurines. Rock art of India includes rock relief carvings, engravings and paintings, some (but by no means all) from the South Asian Stone Age. Indian art has itself received influences at times, especially from Central Asia and Iran, and Europe.Įarly Indian art Rock Art Indian artist styles historically followed Indian religions out of the subcontinent, having an especially large influence in Tibet, South East Asia and China. Indian funeral and philosophic traditions exclude grave goods, which is the main source of ancient art in other cultures. Many of the most important ancient finds that are not in carved stone come from the surrounding, drier regions rather than India itself. In historic art, sculpture in stone and metal, mainly religious, has survived the Indian climate better than other media and provides most of the best remains. In spite of this complex mixture of religious traditions, generally, the prevailing artistic style at any time and place has been shared by the major religious groups. On its way to modern times, Indian art has had cultural influences, as well as religious influences such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Islam. The origin of Indian art can be traced to prehistoric settlements in the 3rd millennium BCE. A strong sense of design is characteristic of Indian art and can be observed in its modern and traditional forms.

Geographically, it spans the entire Indian subcontinent, including what is now India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and at times eastern Afghanistan. Indian art consists of a variety of art forms, including painting, sculpture, pottery, and textile arts such as woven silk.

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