Settavarai

Location

Settavarai is wonderful location of Villupuram District. It is the lovely and silent location of Tamil Nadu the settavarai in six heels one is missing for the Elumalaiyan temple located 50 kilometres (31 mi) northwest of Villupuram, 28 kilometres (17 mi) southeast of Thiruvannaamalai, 26 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of Gingee . Another importantant rock art site of Tamil Nadu, Kilvalai, is located 18 km southeast of Settavarai.

Transportation

Town buses depart from Gingee bus stand (Bus no: 13) to [Thadagam] go via to settavarai and Tirukkoyilur bus stand [bus no:15]to [nallan pillai petral] go via Settavarai.

About the village

Settavarai village has a 3000-year heritage. The historical importance of the village is the presence of 1000 B.C.E. rock paintings. The Settavarai rock paintings consist mainly of animal images.

Rock paintings

Globally, the study of rock art and their interpretations has gained momentum in the field of archaeology. Archeologists not only denoted the artistic skill of the people who had painted them, also their beliefs and their daily activities. The paintings on the rock shelters mostly depict hunting scenes and human activities.

Settavarai Rock paintings

The paintings are found in the rock shelters of a hillock called Ayyanarmalai. Animals like deer, wild boar, buffalo, tiger, fish and many images of human palms with fingers are found at the top of the hill. Among these paintings, a deer and a fish are depicted in large size. The outlines for these two figures are drawn in red ochre while the inner portion is painted white. The figure of a buffalo is drawn completely in red. The form of another buffalo is drawn in thick ochre while the back half is painted showing the bones and other inner organs. These type of paintings are called x-ray paintings.

One significant scene is found in front of the deer. A small amount of flesh is found fried in the fire with the help of long pole. This scene confirms that the authors of these paintings were well aware of eating fried flesh and fish.

Only one human figure is found in this large scene of animals. The nose of the human is drawn in the same style as seen in Kilvalai rock paintings, but without a dagger. Based on the execution of paintings and the style of the figures, the date of these paintings is estimated at 1500 B.C.E.