Vellerikombai Rock Art: Stylized Red Ochre Depictions and Deterioration Challenges in Nilgiris

Summary

The Vellerikombai rock art site in the Nilgiris, distinct from other local sites like Sigur and Iduhatt Konavakoral, features red ochre petrographs depicting stylized human forms, a humped bull, and a hand. Identified in 1984 by anthropologist Allen Zackerel and later studied by State Archaeology officials, the site lacks petroglyphs. While local Kurumba tribes attribute the art to their ancestors, archaeologists and musicologists argue it is prehistoric, likely Neolithic, citing the humped bull motif. Interpretations vary: R. Poongundran links it to Neolithic cattle keepers from Karnataka, while M. Basavalingam proposes an extraterrestrial origin, comparing figures to Australian rock art. The site’s accessibility and exposure to environmental factors—wind, sun, vegetation, and pollution—threaten its preservation. Recommendations include protective measures like silicone coatings, vegetation management, and avoiding human interference. The site’s unique stylized forms contrast with geometric patterns at Iduhatty and typical animal/hunting scenes elsewhere. Local oral traditions and the site’s name, *eluthu paarai* (inscribed rock), reflect its cultural significance, though its exact age remains debated.