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Maharashtra has launched an INR 15 crore AI-driven initiative to digitally map and study prehistoric petroglyphs across 107 villages in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. The four-year project, led by IITM Pravartak, will use drone surveys and advanced imaging to prepare a scientific dossier supporting the state's UNESCO World Heritage nomination. Dating between 20,000 BC and 10,000 BC, the rock carvings span nearly 150 sq km, making them among India's oldest known examples of prehistoric art.
The Maharashtra government has sanctioned an INR 15 crore project to use artificial intelligence (AI), drone technology and archaeological research to scientifically document and analyse thousands of prehistoric petroglyphs spread across the Konkan region. The four-year initiative will cover 107 villages in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts and is intended to support the state's bid for UNESCO World Heritage status for the ancient rock carvings.
The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums has appointed IITM Pravartak, the technology innovation hub of IIT Madras, to undertake the digital assessment and documentation of the sites. According to the state government, the study will generate scientific evidence and detailed records required for the final UNESCO nomination dossier.
The petroglyphs are spread over nearly 150 sq km and were identified through a series of surveys and excavations conducted between 2017 and 2023. Archaeologists estimate that the carvings date from between 20,000 BC and 10,000 BC, placing them well before the earliest phase of the Harappan civilisation. The engravings, averaging around 50 metres by 20 metres in size, depict animals such as elephants, turtles, rhinoceroses and peacocks, alongside humanoid figures.
Officials from the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums stated that the carvings represent one of the earliest known examples of artistic expression on the Indian subcontinent. They noted that the absence of horse and bull figures suggests the carvings predate the introduction of agriculture and horse domestication in the region, indicating a Mesolithic origin.
The project will employ high-resolution drone surveys to capture aerial imagery of the sites. These images will then be processed using AI-based systems capable of identifying patterns, reconstructing eroded sections and classifying motifs. Researchers will compare the findings with prehistoric rock art from other parts of the world to study their cultural origins, tools used and possible symbolic meanings. The assessment will also incorporate local folklore, traditions and ethnographic research from tribal communities living around the sites.
The petroglyphs were first identified in 2007 by a group led by Ratnagiri resident Sudhir Risbud. Subsequent surveys by the non-profit organisation Nisarga Yatri documented nearly 3,000 carvings across more than 150 villages, eventually confirming their presence in 107 locations. Manual documentation proved difficult because of the size and scale of the engravings, prompting the adoption of advanced imaging technologies.
The sites were included in India's UNESCO Tentative List in 2025, marking the first stage of the World Heritage nomination process. State officials said the AI-based documentation will provide the comparative analysis, conservation records, management plans and scientific evidence required for the final submission. With UNESCO nomination slots already allocated until 2028-29, Maharashtra is targeting submission of the completed dossier in 2030 after the study concludes.
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