Hyderabad: A prehistoric rock shelter on the outskirts of Basvayapalli village in Devarakadra mandal of Narayanapet district is facing threats from stone quarrying, raising concerns among archaeologists.Archaeologist Dr E Siva Nagi Reddy said the rock formation, locally known as Puli Gundu (Tiger Boulder), requires urgent attention. He said he explored the site on Wednesday as part of the campaign ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’.According to Reddy, the rock shelter, which resembles a tiger with its mouth open, may have served as a temporary camp for Neolithic people. He said he observed a significant number of Neolithic grooves on a nearby hillock, formed by grinding the cutting edges of stone axes and polishing them, which he dated to around 4,000 BCE.He also said there are traces of rock bruisings depicting bulls and other animals on an inaccessible rock next to the Tiger Boulder, which he attributed to the same period. Reddy added that the boulder and surrounding hillocks, along with a natural pond, could have supported the area’s use as a seasonal camp by Neolithic communities.Pointing to quarrying activity in Basvayapalli close to the rock shelter, he appealed to local quarry operators to protect the site from vandalism.
