New Delhi: A post by a user has gone viral on the popular social networking platform. The post mentions paintings uncovered in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh caves that depict UFOs and extraterrestrials that the natives call the “Rohela people”. Accompanied by an image of a large rock painting showing a skeleton-like alien, the post adds that the caves also contain paintings of a calendar that predict future visits by the aliens in 2030 and 2046. Let us answer some questions about this “recent discovery”.
Is this a recent discovery?
A quick look back can reveal that this discovery of cave paintings is not new—it was first reported in 2014. When the paintings were first discovered, they were considered 10,000 years old.
However, this claim was contradicted by French scientist Dr Jean Clottes and rock art expert Dr Meenakshi Dubey Pathak, who said that based on preliminary investigation, the paintings seemed to be only 1,000 years old, according to a report in TOI.
Where exactly were they found?
Hidden deep in the forests of Charama within the Kanker district of Chhattisgarh, the cave paintings are located in villages Chandeli and Gotitola in the tribal Bastar region, about 130 km from the city of Raipur. They were discovered by a group of anthropologists and hill tribes working in the area.
What do the paintings look like?
Painted with colours sourced from natural materials, the discovered paintings have been kept away from weathering agents like sunlight, moisture, and the human touch, keeping them well-preserved.
The paintings show creatures similar to aliens, as are depicted in Hollywood movies. Beside them is another painting of a semi-circular structure with an antenna and three legs fanning out. A ‘wormhole-like’ formation is also viewed in images that have surfaced.
The paintings also show the figures holding objects that may be interpreted as weapons. None have clear features, with the nose and mouth missing from all the human-like shapes. In a few paintings, the figures look like they are wearing spacesuits.
Earlier paintings discovered in similar sites depict animals and humans and their daily lives. This was the first discovery of rock paintings that show extraterrestrial creatures, some even donning helmets and descending from the skies.
What do archaeologists say?
In 2014, in a TOI interview with archaeologist JR Bhagat, he said that ancient civilisations may have imagined or seen beings from other planets. To uncover the mystery of these paintings, the state culture and archaeological department would seek help from NASA and ISRO.
In the same year, Dr Clottes and Dr Pathak refuted this claim, saying that the paintings were rock art that had nothing to do with aliens. They said that the paintings were worshipped by locals because they depicted Lord Rama and Sita and that no further claims could be made without a scientific base.
They added that the ‘alien-like helmets’ viewed on the figures were headdresses worn by tribals in the area and that similar paintings, not having clear outlines, were present in many other places in Chhattisgarh itself. They appeared similar because of convention—people drew rough ideas of figures.
As for aliens visiting Earth, Clottes said that even if they did, they would not be visible or audible to humans because, having travelled across millions of galaxies and solar systems, their wavelengths would be different from ours.
A recent post on social media shows cave paintings that seem to depict UFOs and aliens has gone viral. Read on to know the truth behind these mysterious paintings. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
