Call to save Hirebenakal, lest it fades away from the canvas of time

Hubballi: At least 30 rock paintings and over 100 megalithic structures which are said to be at least 3,000 years old in the seven hill ranges in a 10-km radius of Hirebenakal prehistoric site near Gangavathi have been either defaced or losing their colours due to poor maintenance.

According to Gangavathi-based historian Sharanabasappa Kolkar, who has done extensive study on the cave paintings and pre-historic sites in and around Gangavathi, at least 130 caves in the region have over 250 wall paintings.

“A majority of them are surviving as these cave paintings are in inaccessible locations. But, as these paintings are not protected from anthropological activities and due to natural reasons, they are losing colours and are weathering,” he says.

Locals say stone quarrying, encroachment and agriculture activities have destroyed important late neolithic and early iron age-megalithic period sites.

They say neither the central government’s Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) nor the state government’s Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage (DAMH) made efforts to conserve the sites.

The paintings in these rock shelters consist of motifs like long row of human figures, horse rider holding battle-axe, a row of deer, bull with long horns, peacock & 12-foot-long pythons.

Kolkar says these sites provide clues on hunting strategies, weapons (spears, axes), flora and fauna, culture and tradition, burial practices and other aspects of the semi-nomadic humans of the Iron Age - megalithic period.

Some of the major paintings are in Morera hill, Durgadadadi hills of Hirebenkal, Karadivatlu hill of Sangapur, Vanabhadreshwara hill and Karekallu hills of Mallapura, Benake Kandi hill of Chikrampura, Anegundi hills, Mouryara hills of Agoli, Yemmigudda, Rakkasakutri hill and Dubai Kutri of Bandi harlapur.

Even the three ash mounds near Hirebenakal, Vittalapur and Ramadurga have been encroached for farming, say locals.

Pavankumar Gundur, of Kishkindha Youth Trekking Club, says they made several representations to ASI and DAMH, to conserve one of the most important historical sites in India.

“Hirebenakal, on the tentative list of Unesco World Heritage sites, does not have basic facilities or signboards”.

He says several dolmens (there are over 500 dolmens likely in the 20-hectare area of Hirebenakal) are damaged.

“Due to rain and heat, painting are fading. Vegetation overgrowth is also damaging rock paintings and megalithic structures,” he says and urged the government to install CCTV cameras to prevent damages.

Renowned archaeologist Ravi Korishettar says conserving such a huge landscape is difficult. “Efforts are on to include Hirebenakal in the Unesco world heritage list. This could prevent stone quarrying here,” he says and adds the public should also take responsibility to preserve these sites.

While Hirebenakal is under ASI’s care, there are hardly any conservation efforts made. ASI superintending archaeologist of Hampi Circle Ramakrishna Reddy refused to comment.

DAMH director Devaraj says: “If ASI fails, DAMH is ready to take over its management”.

He says he would make efforts to get legal status to other important sites in Gangavathi to stop mining there.