Kasaragod: Researchers have discovered prehistoric rock art at Erikulam in Kasaragod. The finding was made during a team of historians' visit to the site to examine 'Thoranam', an ancient rock painting at Erikulam Valiyaparambu, already documented in historical texts.

The newly discovered carvings depict a kite and a snake, believed to have been etched into the rock with a sharp tool. The artwork was discovered on rocks located in an open grassland area.

The research team included Dr Nandakumar Koroth, history faculty member at Nehru Arts and Science College, Kanhangad, and noted researcher Satheesan Kaliyanam, along with Anakha Sivaraman and Asna Jiji, archaeology students from Baroda University.

Another drawing resembling a human face was also found on a rock near the artworks of the kite and snake.

Similar art on red stone has been created by prehistoric humans from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra in the North, to Wayanad in Kerala in the South. As per archaeologists, the age of the over 1,000 such drawings discovered on red rocks near the Konkan coast in Maharashtra is over 12,000 years.

The researchers said that the newly-discovered artwork was probably created by ancient humans who lived in Erikulam during their leisure time, when they noticed kites landing on the expansive land at Valiyapara and snakes crawling between the grass. The kite drawn on the rock is seen extending one of its legs as it lands on a tree branch.

Meanwhile, the researchers said that over 200 rock drawings have been discovered in Kasaragod district so far and called for measures by the authorities to preserve the art.