Newly discovered petroglyphs in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra feature clear depictions of a one-horned rhinoceros, an animal no longer native to Western India. These rock carvings, located on laterite plateaus, are estimated to be between 10,000 and 12,000 years old, dating to the Mesolithic era.
The find is significant for palaeo-environmental reconstruction, as it suggests that the Konkan region once hosted a much wetter, savanna-like ecosystem capable of supporting megafauna. The artistry displays a deep familiarity with the animal's anatomy, indicating that early humans in the region coexisted with these large mammals.
