A&C - Part 1 - Chapter 1

Question 1

What term refers to the time before writing was developed?

Answer 1

Prehistory

Question 2

What is the other name for the Old Stone Age?

Answer 2

Palaeolithic Age

Question 3

Who discovered the first prehistoric rock paintings in India?

Answer 3

Archibald Carlleyle

Question 4

In which year were India’s first rock paintings discovered?

Answer 4

1867–68

Question 5

Which famous Spanish cave paintings were discovered after Indian ones?

Answer 5

Altamira

Question 6

Which Indian state has the Lakhudiyar rock shelters?

Answer 6

Uttarakhand

Question 7

What does ‘Lakhudiyar’ mean?

Answer 7

One lakh caves

Question 8

What are the three main themes of Lakhudiyar paintings?

Answer 8

Man, animal, and geometric patterns

Question 9

What colors were used in Lakhudiyar paintings?

Answer 9

White, black, and red ochre

Question 10

What animal figures are seen at Lakhudiyar?

Answer 10

Fox, lizard

Question 11

Which scene is popularly depicted in Lakhudiyar rock art?

Answer 11

Hand-linked dancing human figures

Question 12

Which regions in India show evidence of Neolithic rock paintings?

Answer 12

Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

Question 13

Name three famous Neolithic painting sites in South India.

Answer 13

Kupgallu, Piklihal, Tekkalkota

Question 14

What animal figures are common in South Indian Neolithic rock art?

Answer 14

Bulls, elephants, horses, stylised humans

Question 15

Which region has the richest collection of rock paintings in India?

Answer 15

Vindhya ranges of Madhya Pradesh

Question 16

Where is Bhimbetka located?

Answer 16

45 km south of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

Question 17

Who discovered the Bhimbetka caves?

Answer 17

V.S. Wakankar

Question 18

How many rock shelters are in Bhimbetka?

Answer 18

About 800

Question 19

How many rock shelters at Bhimbetka contain paintings?

Answer 19

About 500

Question 20

How many historical periods are Bhimbetka paintings classified into?

Answer 20

Seven

Question 21

What are the first three periods of Bhimbetka paintings?

Answer 21

Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Chalcolithic

Question 22

What colors dominate Upper Palaeolithic paintings?

Answer 22

Green and dark red

Question 23

What subjects are shown in Upper Palaeolithic paintings?

Answer 23

Huge animals and stick-like humans

Question 24

What painting style was common in the Mesolithic period?

Answer 24

Smaller figures, hunting scenes, community life

Question 25

What tools are hunters shown with in Mesolithic paintings?

Answer 25

Barbed spears, pointed sticks, bows, arrows

Question 26

What animals are depicted in Mesolithic rock art?

Answer 26

Elephant, tiger, bison, deer, frog, lizard

Question 27

How are humans depicted in Mesolithic paintings?

Answer 27

Stylistically, often with head-dresses and masks

Question 28

What were the common themes in Mesolithic period paintings?

Answer 28

Hunting, dancing, food preparation, family life

Question 29

What colors were commonly used by Bhimbetka artists?

Answer 29

White and red

Question 30

What mineral was used to make red pigment?

Answer 30

Haematite (geru)

Question 31

What mineral provided green pigment?

Answer 31

Chalcedony

Question 32

What material was used to make white pigment?

Answer 32

Limestone

Question 33

What might have been used as a binder in prehistoric paints?

Answer 33

Animal fat, gum, or resin

Question 34

What materials were prehistoric brushes made of?

Answer 34

Plant fibre

Question 35

Why have prehistoric pigments survived so long?

Answer 35

Chemical reactions with rock oxides

Question 36

What locations in rock shelters were used for paintings?

Answer 36

Ceilings and high walls

Question 37

Why were some paintings made in inaccessible areas?

Answer 37

Possibly for religious or symbolic reasons

Question 38

What kind of emotion is often depicted in animal scenes?

Answer 38

Fear, tenderness, admiration

Question 39

What practice shows ritual elements in prehistoric paintings?

Answer 39

Hunting dances, rock engravings, masked figures

Question 40

What do overlapping layers in Bhimbetka paintings suggest?

Answer 40

Sacred importance or use across generations

Question 41

What cultural events might rock paintings have marked?

Answer 41

Birth, death, marriage, hunting rites

Question 42

What tool remains are found with prehistoric paintings?

Answer 42

Rock tools, bones, ceramics

Question 43

What do the handprints and dots represent in some shelters?

Answer 43

Symbolic or ritual markings

Question 44

What is the key significance of prehistoric rock paintings?

Answer 44

Insight into early human life, art, and beliefs