Hirebenakal: The Story of Rock Music and Art

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Hirebenakal: The Story of Rock Music and Art


For most of us, music was introduced as lullabies by our parents. It has had a lasting effect on us since then. Music has become a part of life from it being played in the background of elevators to weekend music raves. What might have initially started as a series of pleasing sounds has now become increasingly popular among every generation; each having varied playlists composed of several genres.

Anthropologists and archaeologists have gathered enough evidence to prove the existence of music in pre-historic communities all over the world. Indeed, most traditional forms of music are associated with religious beliefs and spiritual practices. Many schools of music prospered around activities of worship and occult practice; their music praising the Deity’s beauty, valour, benevolence and love. In ancient Greece, the Greek god Apollo was worshipped as the God of music, healing, light and prophecy. In pre-historic Egypt, music and chanting were commonly associated with magic and ritualistic practices. During the pre-dynastic period of the Egyptian history, funerary practices were often accompanied with flutes and a series of rhythmic clapping.

India is considered to have one of the oldest musical traditions in the world. The Natyashastra is the oldest surviving Indian text on the performing arts. It consists of 6000 poetic verses dedicated to the Indian classic theories of drama, dance and music. Written by the mythical sage and priest Bharata Muni, it dates back to the first millennium BCE. The infamous theory of expressions in dance and drama, the Navarasa comes from this ancient text. The detailed information on music theory as well as instruction for musical instruments is evidence for the influence of music in pre-historic and early historic communities. The Natyashastra classifies music into two genres, The Gandharva music used for formal ceremonial and religious occasions and The Gana genre used for informal and entertainment occasions.

The Natyashastra beautifully illustrates the relationship between religion and the performing arts. Its prolonged association is still visible in modern day India, where Goddess Sarasvati has been worshipped as the Goddess of knowledge and music and is very commonly associated with the Veena – a stringed instrument commonly used in the Hindustani and Carnatic schools of Music in India.

After years of research and discussion amongst anthropologists and archaeologists, it is commonly accepted that the first probable musical instrument was the human voice. The vocal cords located as part of the hyoid bone produce sounds through vibrations. The oldest hypoid bone resembling a modern human is associated with the Neanderthal man, pushing the antiquity of music to 4,00,000 – 28,000 years ago. Most scholars agree on one of two theories on the origin of music. Some believe that the music initially developed as a vocal gestural sound between mothers and infants.The second theory suggests that music was inspired by rhythmic noises made while doing daily chores such as pounding seeds and roots.

With the evolution of mankind, the focus shifted from survival skills to exploring the concepts of art, culture and music. Gradually the concept of early music came into being and became a part of the activities of primitive humans for fulfilling their ritualistic needs as well as leisurely activities. It is likely that the creation and development of musical instruments began with the production of stone tools. ‘Rock gongs’ and ‘lithophones’ are some of the earliest examples of pre-historic musical instruments along with flutes made from bones. Rock gongs, otherwise known as Ringing rocks, are naturally occurring rock formations adapted to produce musical tones; they are often considered to be the rudimentary forms of a lithophone (from Greek- ‘Lith’ here implies stone, ‘phone’ indicates voice/sound).

Lithophones are most commonly percussion instruments that produce music when struck with a hammer or bones on the beating surface. Lithophones occur globally, some of the best examples of rock gongs are found in the Mfangano Islands of Kenya, Africa, the Luray caves of Virginia in the United States of America and the Ringing rocks found in Pennsylvania. The pre-historic and early historic communities in India are considered to be among the first to use Lithophones as architectural elements. This is commonly found in the temples of Southern India, as seen at the Nellaiyappar temple in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu (8th Century C.E.), Vijaya Vitthala temple in Hampi, Karnataka (15th Century C.E) and the Madurai Meenakshi Temple (16th Century C.E.)

One such site to unfold the story of mankind and their experimentation with music is the pre-historic settlement in Hirebenakal. Situated in the Gangavati Taluk of Koppal district, Karnataka, Hirebenakal has been classified as a megalithic site. The term ‘Megalithic’ refers roughly to the transitional period between the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic periods in South India and is infamously associated with the South Indian Iron Age. This ancient necropolis is spread across a kilometre with an east-west orientation and is classified into three clusters, serving as a habitation and a burial complex. The site borders a perennial water source due to which it is enriched with several resources and raw materials.


Fig. 1 & 2: Rock shelters in Hirebenakal that offer a panoramic view of the surrounding complexes. 

The necropolis covers about 400 megalithic structures mainly consisting of tombs in different shapes and types. Based on the typology and the technology used, researchers and scholars date these structures to 800-200 BCE. Excavations at the habitation complex have revealed cultural deposits consisting of pre-megalithic implements, iron slags and pottery associated with the neolithic, megalithic and early historical periods.

Apart from the vast number of megalithic structures, the site also has numerous rock shelters in the habitation complex. About ten of these rock shelters contain painted surfaces with red ochre pigment. The painted panels depict scenes of people dancing, hunting, holding weapons and other social activities. Many geometric designs and mystical signs are also visible with zoomorphic representations of regional fauna- deer, antelope, humped bulls and peacocks.


      Fig.3 Painted panel depicting humped bull                  Fig.4 Painted panel depicting dancing stick figures


Fig.5 Painted panel depicting a hunting scene                 Fig. 6 Depiction of stick figure holding weapon


                     Fig.7 Mysterious symbols                               Fig. 8 Zoomorphic representation of regional fauna


Fig.9 Painted panel in a Rock shelter 

However, the most striking feature, both literally and figuratively is the kettle drum situated at the edge of the site which is a form of a lithophone strategically positioned on top of a hillock. It rests on a 10m monolithic structure with a beating surface that has a radius of 2m. When struck with a stone or wood hammer, the drum produces a sound that resonates beyond the prehistoric site’s boundaries and across both the burial and habitation complex which are placed at either end of the site.


Fig.10 The stone kettle drum seen at Hirebenakal 

Due to its positioning, researchers and scholars to date are in awe of this drum’s function. Most of them opine that the drum was perhaps used as a warning signal against invading danger or to gather the community for ritualistic purposes. In many cultures, the beating of drums is often associated with funerary practices. These practices are followed even today in many rural and village communities of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Such is the story of the rocks of the ancient site of Hirebenakal. It has been nominated to be part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site as it embodies a rich history of the pre-historic communities, their lifestyle and culture as well as their scientific and technological advancements.


References:


Image Credits:

  • Images have been selected from project works of INTACH. Figure 10 has been cited from ‘GopsCreativ :: Rediscovering my lost passions’ after agreeing to their terms and conditions of use and privacy policy. Available at: HIRE BENAKAL : VALLEY OF THE DEAD ! – GOPS


Article written by Ms. Avni Srinidhi
Article edited by Mrs. Srishti Safaya

 

 

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