Last week, Maharashtra took a giant leap in preserving history by declaring 1,500 ancient geoglyphs scattered across the Konkan region as ‘protected monuments’ under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1960. These rock art pieces, spread over 70 locations and 210 square kilometres in the Ratnagiri district, are relics from the Mesolithic period—dating back an impressive 20,000 to 10,000 years. The intricate designs offer a peek into early human life and the ancient ecosystem through their anthropomorphic and zoomorphic depictions.
This move not only highlights Maharashtra’s commitment to safeguarding its rich heritage but also celebrate the subcontinent’s deep-rooted cultural and artistic legacy.Today, with 1,500 geoglyphs along Konkan coastline, India now stands alongside global icons like Chile’s Atacama Giant and Peru’s Nazca Lines.
So, what are geoglyphs?
These are basically massive designs etched into the earth by removing or piling up rock, sand, and soil. These colossal artworks, visible from a distance, can be naturalistic, abstract, or geometric, often reflecting complex knowledge of proportions and mathematics.
