9,000-year-old Iron Age rock paintings discovered in Yelagiri hills in Tamil Nadu

Iron Age rock paintings dating back 9,000 years have been discovered in Tamil Nadu. A team led by Dr Prabhu, a Tamil professor at Thiagarajar College, has discovered the paintings in a natural cave located in the Yelagiri Hills.

The cave, spanning approximately 100 square metres, has reportedly 80 paintings of human and animal figures. 

The artwork is spread across three distinct clusters, depicting scenes of animal riding, warfare, dancing, and celebration, offering valuable insight into the lives, beliefs, and practices of early Iron Age communities in the region.

Experts suggest the cave may have served as a spiritual or ceremonial purpose, given its elevated location and the symbolic nature of the paintings. 

The themes and composition indicate that the site could have been used for rituals or gatherings, possibly associated with ancient worship.

This discovery is now being hailed as the largest rock art site uncovered in Vellore district and the wider northwestern Tamil Nadu region.