Mystery of 12,000-Year-Old Rock Carvings in India Sparks Talk of a Lost Civilization

Thousands of prehistoric petroglyphs unearthed in Maharashtra's Konkan zone could be from a hitherto unknown civilization that existed more than 12,000 years ago. They have been found mainly in Ratnagiri and Rajapur and are carvings of animals, human beings, birds, and geometric patterns with remarkable artistic quality. Interestingly, some of the carvings contain animals such as rhinoceroses that are not found naturally in this area, which opens up possibilities of migration or geological changes.

The lack of farm-related designs indicates that the artists were hunter-gatherers who knew a lot about nature. These carvings were discovered by local adventurers Sudhir Risbood and Manoj Marathe, with assistance from villagers and schoolchildren, covering more than 52 locations. Some carvings were actually considered sacred by locals as holy symbols.

This find provides revolutionary information about early human habitation and culture in South Asia. Scientists now plan to carry out carbon dating and more research to uncover the secrets of this vanished civilization.

Sources: BBC, All That's Interesting, Daily Galaxy