This is the fourth book on Rock Art published by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts under its Adi Drsya programme. The present study is based on a thorough survey of painted shelters of Kerala, the southern most region of India. Rock Art Samples from Kerala are unique. The book brings to light a distinct style in Rock Art tradition, especially in terms of engraved geometric motifs. Yashodhar Mathpal’s present work does not suggest theoretical propositions and obviously it is not the objective of this monograph to create a new hypothesis. Being an artist himself, his identification and diligent and systematic recording of the rock art sites in this volume is a welcome contribution towards the understanding and comprehension of the primal vision as seen in the distinctive and yet universal representation of art in Kerala. The tabulation of motifs and other details are methodically recorded. Rock art material, along with ethnographical evidence, suggests a close dynamic relationship between man and nature; the line and style of drawings of plants, animals and abstract motifs is an indication of this relationship. The book will be of great help to researchers who wish to pursue further work in the area.
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