Underwater rock art: in global context

Dr. Sachin Kr. Tiwary. sachintiwary@rocketmail.com. Assist. Archaeologist Government of India, Ministry of Culture, Archaelogical Survey of India.

Marine or maritime archaeology, otherwise known as nautical and underwater archaeology; is a distinct and emerging field within the broader discipline of archaeology. Marine archaeology is primarily concerned with the documentation, investigation and recovery of material remains and physical traces of settlements, maritime communities, technologies and practices. The material remains of the activities of men can be traced in and alongside seas, lakes and rivers. Sunken ships, cargo, tools and anchors lost in voyages are important sources of information. According to famous maritime archaeologist “marine archaeology is the scientific study of the material remains of man and his activities on the sea”. (Mucklroy,1978:34). The main objective of 'nautical archaeology' is to study different types of seagoing vessels, their construction techniques and various kinds of usages.

The present paper dealing with the new term ‘Marine Rock art’ or we can say ‘Under water rock art’, can be explained in similar way as ‘Marine Archaeology’. It refers to those rock art sites which had existed on the coastal plains or on the fringes of water bodies which in due course of time got submerged into the waters due to various reasons, the cause of which may be natural such as changes in the earth’s crust and the subsequent raise of the water level or even Man-made causes such as due to modern developmental projects. So this specialized field of Rock Art Studies deal with those paintings which already got submerged or on the verge of submersion and analyses its various problems such as the causes of its submersion (if natural), it’s preservation and conservation problems, methods adopted for its exploration and documentation, etc.

In this paper the author wants to deal with new term in Rock art study which is named as Marine or Underwater rock art. All over the world so many sites has been noticed where the marine diver discovered the art of our ancestor or the ancient art creation. Now we came to the point that where the marine rock has been noticed? The author himself not discovered any marine rock art but after the study of so many literature came in to this new term. The purpose of this paper is to develop curiosity in the group of rock art specialist regarding the importance of rock art, which is in the water/sea/river and to develop the ideas regarding attention for the underwater archaeologist that in the course of marine exploration we have to keep in mind that there could be a evidence of rock art. Some site are already discovered which I describe site wise below:

Farne Islands (1), Northumberland:

During Feburary, 2007 Mr. Ben Burville noticed some interesting carving on the rock about 20ft (7m) underwater off the Farne Islands in Northumberland¹⁰ (Google Image I:A) Mr. Burville is professionally a medical doctor with a passion for diving with marine mammals. He noticed a rock on the sea floor having a grid type pattern carved into it (to a depth of 1-2mm). (Figure I:B) One thing should be noticed that the site is a few miles off shore and no signs of human activity can be seen in the area. It is at the base of a rock formation that forms part of the Outer Farnes. The rock seems to be the same as the local rock in the same vicinity. Because this types of evidence has not been noticed by Mr. Burville, earlier not with the right angles / grid pattern, which does appear very unnatural. Mr. Stan Beckensall examined the rock and concluded that it is artificial and looks like a gaming board. Another scholar Mr. Ian Hobson opined that they are artificial, but as they have no patina, surely it must be modern? It could be that in Mesolithic period Outer Farne would have been above the waters as many flint scatters in situ below the water, off Tynemouth have been found by diving archaeologists. But surely there could be patination on the grooves of the so called ‘gaming board’. An explanation for the absence of patina marks on it has been given in the following way. As the rock has been covered by sand for most of the time, the sand may have scoured the stone and if the marks had been buried in enough sand, it might have stopped oxygen getting to the stone to cause patination. (Argyll, 1988:160-61) It may be possible during glacial episodes sea levels were up to more than 130 m below present day sea level. Most of the southern North Sea was dry land so it is feasible that rock art could have been done on land and now it is below sea level. It all depends on the date of the work.

(Google Image I:A) Location map of the Farne Islands, Northumberland

(Fig. I:B) Grid type pattern carved into it (to a depth of 1-2mm, Farne Islands, Northumberland (Photography by: Ben Burville)

Tagus valley, Portugal:

Portugal’s most important rock art finds of the last three decades, have a rather unfortunate association with dam projects like: Fratel dam on the river Tagus, Pocinho dam on the river Douro, river Coa dam, Laranjeira dam on the river Sabor, Alqueva dam on the river Guadiana. Some got lost in this project but some were preserved after a long struggle by the culture preservers, the local agencies, college professors and also societies.

Cosquer Cave, France:

Famous rock art site in the world, I wants to say here that from this discovery a new concept develop in my mind that we have to think in this way also which I have already describe above. This is till now biggest and only one site where the evidence of Pictograph, Petro glyphs and Pictograph-cum-Petro glyphs has been noticed. (This new term I have introduce before you already, Pictographs-cum-Petro glyphs means all those rock art, in which after petro glyph, pictographs has been done, in the removed rock surface. Such a type of art we have noticed in Orissan rock art and Hazaribagh region of rock art in Indian context.) In July 1991 Dr.Jean Clottes, an English teacher (Honorary President of the French Prehistoric Society, Scientific Advisor for Prehistoric Art, Director of Prehistoric Antiquities) and a deep sea diver Henri Cosquer discovered paintings and engravings in a cave beneath the sea near Marseilles (France) on the Mediterranean (Google Image II:C). The gallery slopes up for about 360 feet under water before reaching a huge chamber that partly remained above the sea where many prehistoric paintings and engravings are preserved on the walls (Drawing V) as well as remains on the ground (charcoal, a few flint tools). This is the only painted cave in the world with an entrance below present-day sea level where cave art has been preserved from the flooding that occurred when the seas rose after the end of the last glaciations. Between 1991 and 2002 a number of dives were organized with the participation of Dr. Jean Courtin, who is professional archaeologist cum diver and Dr.Jean Clottes. The extraordinary location of the cave entrance is due to the rise of the sea level after the end of the last glaciations and the melting of the thick ice caps. The walls of all the passages and chambers under the water have been corroded and no painting or engraving has been preserved. The rock art discovered is located in the upper chambers that have remained above the sea. About 180 animal figures have been registered, as well as many dozens of diverse geometric signs, 1000 finger drawings, 65 hand stencils and a strange image of a ‘killed’ man has been noticed.

(Google Image II:C). Location of the Cosquer Cave, Marseilles,France.

(Drawing V) A huge chamber that partly remained above the sea, Cosquer Cave, Marseilles, France

Most of the rock art in Europe except for Gargas (Hautes-Pyrénées) and possibly El Castillo in Spain were located in the eastern side of the chamber, with one in the south and none in the west. Right at the brink of a 57 feet deep vertical shaft a location which in itself is significant, there are paintings in black. On other panels they may be in black or red. One positive red hand has been found. A number of adult hand stencils have been scratched or painted over with dots and bars. (Figure VI) Many of them have incomplete fingers produced by bending of the fingers. Hand stencils with incomplete fingers had until very recently only been found in very few caves, mostly in the Pyrenees (Gargas, Tibiran, Fuente del Trucho). The Cosquer Cave, even though most of its art was no doubt destroyed when it got flooded, is however a major discovery because it is in the Provence where no such site had been known before with such a abundant animal figure, hand stencils. However sea animals rarely or never depicted (seals, auks). The ground is littered with charcoal which could be the remains of the wood which people burnt in order to get the black color for making drawings. People did not live in the depths of those caves.

(Fig. VI) Adult hand stencils, Cosquer Cave, Marseilles,France, (Photography by: J. Clottes)

Date:  A total of 24 C₁₄ dates have been obtained. They suggest that the cave had been frequented during two periods, first around 27,000 before present, then around 19,000 BP. The evidence tells us that ancient people went into the Cosquer cave during at least two different periods. During Palaeolithic times, the sea level was about 360 feet lower than it is now, and the coast was 3 miles away from the cliff. When the sea rose dramatically [about 12,000 years ago] more than half the cave was flooded. What was called Phase 1 is now well dated at about 27,000 years ago by four radiocarbon analyses. Following Phase 1, the cave was abandoned for about 8,000 years, unless people used it without leaving any evidence of their presence. It is believe by scholars that it was during Phase 2 all the animal paintings and other engravings were made. This period is well dated at about 18,500 to 19,000 years ago by means of radiocarbon analysis of the charcoal used in some of the paintings, as well as by some charcoal lumps found on the floor.

Nature of Paintings: Only Rock painting and engraving has been noticed from this place. Animals like Aurochs, saiga, mega ceros, deer and marine animals (Penguins and seals) are depicted. The explorer has noticed the presence of composite animal figures viz. horse head with bison horn. This unrealistic representation evokes a mythological scheme. According to J. Clottes, a mixed representation of human and a seal with spear piercing it was also noticed.

Horses are the most numerous, making up nearly one-third of the total. In some drawings they are represented by its head alone; in others, with the whole body. Such minute details as the difference in coat colour between belly and flank are discernible in one painting. On the same panel are three black horses with an ibex engraved over one of them. (Figure VII) Horses are the animals most often depicted in other Upper Palaeolithic caves, so their dominant presence in the Cosquer cave is not unusual. The next most commonly depicted animals are ibexes and chamois, which were the animals that favoured the rocky environments that existed during Palaeolithic times. All but one black ibexes are engraved. Their bodies are accurately proportioned, except for the horns. Several European bison have also been portrayed. (Clottes J. & Courtin J., 1993:9)

(Fig. VII) Black horses with an ibex engraved over one of them, Cosquer Cave, Marseilles,France, (Photography by: J. Clottes)

The lower part of Cosquer Cave, partly submerged, remind us that the Palaeolothic man is directly associated with the important change of the seashore position, which took place from last glacial maximum to present time. Cosquer cave is not the single cave on this area. Triperirie and Figuier caves were known for a long time to the divers from Marseille and Cassis. In the upper part of the cave, rock art is well preserved, but the lowest series are submerged. The cave entrance, which is 37 m. below the sea level, was closed by the sea between 8000-6000 B.P.  (J.Collina, 1996: 27-40).

Altafjord in Finnmark, Norway

The World Heritage Rock Art in Alta is a rich cultural monument consisting of several carvings and paintings localized in the inner parts of the Altafjord in Finnmark, Norway (2). (Google Image VIII) Interestingly all painting and engravings were about 2 c.m. to 2 m. distance from seashore. The rock art in Alta was made over a long period of time, from 4200B.C. to 200 A.D. Within this period we can see both continuity and change. After few years it may get submerged into the sea.

(Google Image VIII) Altafjord in Finnmark, Norway (In inset Norwey Country)

Australia, New Guinea

Defining the history of Pre-European settlement in the Pacific has been a subject of scholarly concern since Captain James Cook sailed these oceans in the eighteenth century. Archaeological research of the last 50 years provides a fairly clear picture of the successive stages of human expansion in this region, which forms a quarter of the world’s surface. The western Pacific lands, comprising Australia, New Guinea (3) and its eastern archipelagos, got settled during the Pleistocene, probably over 40.000 year ago. (Kirch, P.V. 2000)

Island Melanesia

Recently most archaeological research program in Island Melanesia (4) had been concerned with first settlement sites having rock art. About 3000 engravings had been noticed on the sea shore and some are now submerged in the sea. (Figure IX) (Christophe Sand 2009:255)

(Fig. IX) Engraving in circles on the bed rock near sea shore of Island Melanesia, (Photography by: Christophe Sand)

Conclusion

Rock art represents an irreplaceable cultural heritage. The government is not only necessarily its most ardent protector. Independent, preferably international peer review is essential. Perhaps it could be argued that international rock art scholars should not concern themselves with their region alone. The rock art is not the property of any state or private. It is the property of all humanity. It is to be treated as such, and not as a hostage of an inexperienced, secretive and deceptive technocracy.

The entire art site is a sacred monument. As a fact of history, it is inseparable from the human race. In this context rock art reflect the relationship between people and the land. The pre-historic rock painting reflects the Mesolithic and Chalcolithic cultural traits. Most of the Mesolithic paintings are expressions of relationship between human beings and animal life. The depiction of paintings shows lifestyle of hunting and gathering society particularly of the Mesolithic age. The Mesolithic people have tried to explain the day to day activity of their society. They have given expression to the challenges they have faced in life through the paintings. Sometimes the Mesolithic paintings were executed in very inconvenient places like high rock walls or ceiling and it could only have been done using ladders and scaffolding. Occasionally the Chalcolithic paintings are executed overlapping the early paintings.

The first step in protecting the prehistoric rock art is proper identification and safeguarding it. Underwater Rock art remains in little known areas have to be explored and to their names have to be recorded on a map so as to give a better idea of geographical extent and the dangers they may face. For the purpose of future referencing, it is absolutely essential to compile a detailed and illustrated inventory of underwater rock art in accordance with the location and state of preservation of the sites. Such a work should include all the known sites and particulars of their art and archaeological contents. Drawings of the paintings should be prepared. In India there are already legislations for the protection of cultural heritage sites but they need some change or modifications and should be implemented strictly.  Bodies like the Archaeological Survey of India (A.S.I.) and Department of Anthropology, Government of India, should serve as the nodal agencies in such a project. Universities and State Department of Archaeology, Rock Art Society of India, I.G.N.C.A., I.F.R.A.O. and other qualified Institutions could also be assigned a specific area comprising rock art sites for the purpose of documentation. The work can also be undertaken as a project under the University Grants Commission (U.G.C.) or the Indian Council of Historical Research (I.C.H.R.). If possible UNESCO could also be approached for the purpose. It is time to realize and meet our responsibility for preservation and further study of rock art as it being an important part of our proud cultural heritage. We should at least endeavor to make and have records of this art and culture for the edification and betterment of the future generation.

Acknowledgments:

I sincerely like to Dr. D. N. Sinha, (Dy. S.A., A.S.I.), S. Krishnamurthy (Assistant Epigraphist, Lucknow), Dr. Robert G. Bedenarik (Convener of IFRAO) and Shri Amitabh Tiwari who inspired us to focus ourselves in archaeological research and spared their invaluable time to offer me the most needed suggestions and for guidance in the preparation of this paper. I also thank to all the authors of many publications and scholars, whose support and guide, helped me to write this article.

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Cómo citar este artículo:

Tiwary, Sachin Kr. Underwater rock art: in global context.
En Rupestreweb, http://www.rupestreweb.info/underwaterockart.html

2014

Referencias

Argyll, Royal Commission Ancient & Historical Monuments, Scotland, volume 6, HMSO 1988, pp.160-61.

Christophe Sand, ‘Ocean Rock art: First direct dating of prehistoric stencils and paintings from New Caledonia (Southern Melanesia)’ in Martine Carver ed., Antiquity; Volume 80, No. 309, 2009 September, p. 255.

Clegg, J., Comment of D. Groenfeldt’s “The Interpretation of Prehistoric Art” in Rock art Research, Volume 2 (I) 1885, p.p.89-90.

Collina J.Girard, Prehistory and costal karst area: Cosquer Cave and the “Calanqes” of Marseile, Speleogenesis and Evolution of Karst Aquifers, Karstologia, 1996,p.p. 27-40.” in Rock art Research, Volume 2 (I) 1885, p.p.89-90.

Jean Clottes and Jean Courtin, 1993 April, Neptune’s Ice age Gallery,” By, Natural History, p. 9.

Kirch, P.V., On the Road of the Winds: An Archaeological history of the Pacific Island before European contact, Berkley: University of California Press. 2000.

Mucklroy, K., Maritime Archaeology. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1978, p.34.