10,000-year-old caves and rock paintings found in Telangana

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History enthusiasts have unearthed prehistoric rock shelters, paintings, stone tools, and pottery at Indrapalanagaram in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district. Matti Foundation researchers, including Reddy Ratnakar Reddy, say the rock shelters at Shankaram Gutta could be 10,000 years old. Faded red paintings were found on a large exposed rock opposite the path to the Yellamma temple. The team says lime mortar was applied to the rock before the paintings were made, suggesting the art could belong to the Kakatiya period under ruler Rudrama Devi.

Excavations at Patigadda uncovered microlithic tools, Neolithic axes, Megalithic grinding stones, and pottery. Black, red, and grey pottery, painted vessels with gold-coloured lustre, ivory bangles, and beads were found 0.9 metres deep. The team also reported dolmen burials and megalithic structures locally called 'rakshasa gullus'. Rashtrakuta-period inscriptions, Jain Tirthankara sculptures, and a ruined temple were documented. The foundation has urged the archaeology department to conduct further excavations.