KUPGAL (KUPPAGALLU)

KUPGAL (KUPPAGALLU)

Kuppagallu (ಕುಪ್ಪಗಲ್ಲು) also known as Kupgal and Sanganakallu (ಸಂಗನಕಲ್ಲು) both in Bellary district constitute a cluster of very important archaeological sites in Karnataka. It is at a distance of about five kilometers from Bellary. A group of hills surrounding the villages contain the archaeological sites. The neolithic remains are concentrated on the tops and slopes of an outcrop of granitic hills while remains of the megalithic (Iron Age), early Historic and subsequent periods are found in the surrounding plainlands. Biggest among these hills, known as ‘hirEguDDa’ by the locals and ‘Peacock hill’ by the British archaeologists, contains, literally thousands of petroglyphs (A carving or line drawing on rock, especially one made by prehistoric people.) belonging to different periods from the neolithic to the modern days engraved or bruised on the black rocks all along the embankments. A heavy concentration of the rock art engravings is seen where the dyke emerges across the upper northern peak of the hill. One can find images of bulls, pea cocks and elephants among these etchings. These cattle are long horned and they have humped backs. Human figures are often seen with bows and arrows and are very virile. Some of the human beings are found in chains. Peculiar depressions found in some of these stones produce a gong like musical sound when struck with boulders. Scholars have surmised that these musical stones may have played a crucial role in some highly formalised rituals.

“During the South Indian Neolithic period (3000–1200 BC), the agro-pastoral inhabitants of the South Deccan/North Dharwar region constructed large mounded features by heaping and burning accumulations of cattle dung. These ‘ashmound’ features were comprised of a myriad of variegated strata of ash, vitrified dung, and other culturally modified sediments, many of which reached monumental proportions. Ashmounds have been the subject of considerable debate since coming to the attention of scholars in the early 19th century. Current debate has centered largely on the function and spatial context of these features in relation to Neolithic settlement“ Such ash mounds are found in the vicinity of Kupgal also.

The history of excavations at this place dates back to 1843, when Newbold worked here and came to the conclusion that the ash mounds had something to do with funeral rites rather than an industrial venture. Robert Brucefoote (1872-84), Fawcett and Knox Sewell (1899), Longhurst (1916) and Yazdani (1936) continued the work and attributed the ash mounds to burning of cow dung at a high temperature in the neolithic period or gold or iron smelting activities. This burning of cow dung is considered to be a unique feature of the neolithic culture of South India. S.N. Rajaguru and G.G. Majumdar re-opened the activities in 1965 and confirmed that the mounds did belong to the neolithic age. At another layer, some weapons which pre dated the neolithic era were also found. The latter site contained cores and chopping tools as well as flakes. A true Mesolithic industry succeeded this earlier one. This is corroborated by Sankalia finding microliths at the top of nearby Sannarasamma hill. Since the ash mounds at Kupgal are of later date, the paleolithic tools recovered there must be older than 2500 years B.C. a radio-carbon derived date for the establishment of the southern Indian neolithic age.

Some photographs of these rock drawings taken in the nineteenth century were re-photographed and published later by Gordon in 1951. In 2002, Dr. Boivin in association with Ravi Korisettar of the Karnataka University carried out a study of the site and published photographs. This is perhaps only the second time, that photographs of the Kupgal petroglyphs have been published.