UNDERSTANDING THE CREATION OF CUPULES IN DARAKI-CHATTAN, INDIA

COMPREENDENDO A CRIAÇÂO DE CÚPULAS EM DARAKATI-CHATTAN, INDIA

Giriraj KUMAR* & Ramkrishna PRAJAPATI**

* Professor Giriraj Kumar

Faculty of Arts - Dayalbagh Educational Institute
Dayalbagh, Agra-282 005 / India
RASI Secretary
e-mail: girirajrasi@yahoo.com

**Ramkrishna Prajapati
Arya College of Engineering and Information Technology
Kukas Industrial Area, Kukas
Jaipur-Delhi Highway
District Jaipur, Rajasthan / India

Abstract.
Recently cupules have been found in the excavations from Lower Palaeolithic deposits at Bhimbetka in
the Vindhyas and Daraki-Chattan in the Chambal basin in India. Daraki-Chattan yielded 28 cupules and
some hammerstones in the excavations carried out under the EIP Project by the Rock Art Society of
India from 2002 to 2006. It is one of the richest Palaeolithic cupule sites in the world. The most
fascinating aspect about most of the cupules in Daraki-Chattan is that they are so small in diameter. We
are convinced that this is intentional. So we need to find some way to measure the variables of skill
required in keeping the cupules to their small sizes. In this regard we studied cupules in Daraki-Chattan
Cave and conducted experiments to replicate them in 2002, 2004 and 2008, and these are continuing. It
is incredibly hard to make a cupule of 40 or 50 mm diameter, it requires great skill and precision. The
present paper presents our endeavour to replicate cupules on hard quartzite rock and observations made
particularly in 2008 and 2009.
 Giriraj KUMAR & Ramkrishna PRAJAPATI
Recently cupules have been discovered in the
excavations from Lower Palaeolithic deposits
at Bhimbetka in the Vindhyas and Daraki-
Chattan (Figure 1) in the Chambal basin in
India (Bednarik 1993; Kumar 2002, 2005 and
2006). Daraki-Chattan yielded 28 cupules
(Figure 2) and some hammerstones (Figure 3)
in the excavations (Kumar et al 2005; Bednarik
et al 2005). With more than 500 cupules
executed on its two vertical walls, Daraki-
Chattan is one of the richest Palaeolithic
cupule sites in the world (Figure 4). It is
situated in the quartzite buttresses of
Indragarh Hill near Bhanpura, district
Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh.
The archaic cupules in Daraki-Chattan Cave
can be classified broadly into four categories
with their sub-categories (Figure 5):
1. Big circular cupules, saucer shaped or of
168 deep round depth:
a. Big circular cupules of more than 50
mm diameter and smooth saucer-
shaped, depth of more than 5 mm.
b. Big and deep cupules of about 30 to 50
mm diameter and 7 to 12 mm smooth
and round depth. Sometimes the depth
is more than 12 mm.
2. Cupules with conical section:
c. Circular cupules of about 30 to 40 mm
diameter and conical shape, depth of
more than 5 mm.
d. Oval or elongated cupules with oblique
and conical-receding shape, deep side
always downwards of centre.
3. Small cupules with smooth floor:
e. Small circular cupules with shallow
smooth floor. These appear to be
unfinished cupules.
f. Small circular smooth cupules of deeper
depth.
On northern wall of cave
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In the lower side before group 1a: 18.3 x
17.6 x 5.7 mm
No. 144; 24.65 x 27.0 x 11.35 mm, deep
conical cupule
No. 162. 24.5 x 23. 8 x 8.83 mm
On southern wall of cave
195b. 32.3 x 24.6 x 8.4 mm
4. Small cupules with angular periphery and
deep angular depth. There are only two
examples:
1. North wall, lower side before group
1a: 18.3 x 17.6 x 5.7 mm is of roughly
triangular periphery and angular depth.
2. South wall, No. 23, 27.3 x 24.6 x 8.4
mm, with triangular periphery and
triangular depth. It is the only case of its
kind and a marvel of technological
achievement in archaic cupule
production.
Categories 1 and 2 form the major bulk of
the cupules in Daraki-Chattan Cave.
Category 3 forms only a small part, while
cupules of category 4 are rare (only two in
the cave).
Why replication of cupules?
Our study of early cupules on hard quartzite
rock is a pioneering research. In the global
literature on rock art we do not have any
reference to refer for replication work that
could have helped us in understanding the
techniques used, or the intelligence and skill
required and complexities involved in
producing the cupules under study. “The
technology of petroglyphs”, a paper by Robert
G. Bednarik (1998), presents a preliminary
general survey about the state of the
knowledge regarding the creation of
petroglyphs in general at a global level. He
emphasises the need for replication work with
a scientific methodology. But it also does not
 UNDERSTANDING THE CREATION OF CUPULES IN DARAKI-CHATTAN, ÍNDIA
help much to understand our problem, as ours
was the first study of its kind on very archaic
cupules. Hence we have to follow our own
course in replicating cupule production. We
need to show how hard and demanding it is to
make the above-mentioned different types of
cupules on a very hard quartzite rock. It is
incredibly hard and requires immense skill and
precision. Secondly, we also need to
understand and justify the nature and types of
hammerstones discovered in the excavations
at Daraki-Chattan and correlate them with the
cupules in the cave.
Replication of cupules
Our experiment with replication of cupules
commenced in 2002, the year of beginning
excavations at Daraki-Chattan. It continued in
2004 and 2008 and is still continuing. The
second author joined GK in 2004. Now he is
the main person doing experiments, under the
supervision and guidance of GK. Through the
study and observation of cupules in Daraki-
Chattan, GK was convinced from the very
beginning that these have been produced
most probably by direct percussion technique,
hence we used the same technique in the
experiments of cupule replication.
Hammerstones used for practical work
Pebbles and cobbles from Patasighati, with
purple-red core, are very hard and are most
suitable for use as hammerstones for cupule
production, and also for making artefacts.
They were similarly used at this place by
hominins in the Lower Palaeolithic period.
Those on chert, chalcedony and igneous rock
are not suitable because of their fragile nature.
Patasighati is located between Indragarh Hill
and Chanchalamata Hill. It contains highly
cemented boulder conglomerate of a river
deposit in a palaeochannel. It may predate the
appearance of hominins on this land, as no
stone artefacts have been observed there. It
must have been a very powerful stream of very
high velocity, as the boulders up to 50 cm
diameter have become almost round, some are
flat round, hence the local name Patasighati
Congresso Internacional da IFRAO 2009 – Piauí / BRASIL
(referring to a valley of boulders, cobbles and
pebbles like sugar cakes).
Experimental rock
The vertical rock of the small rockshelter to
the left (south) of Daraki-Chattan has been
used as our experimental rock. It is a
continuation of the bedrock of Daraki-Chattan
and consists of the same quartzite rock
(Figures 6 and 7).
In 2002 and 2004 we were able to produce
cupules of category 1a (big circular cupules of
more than 50 mm diameter and more than 5
mm depth, smooth and saucer shaped) and
recorded the details of the process. Initial
results and observations were presented at the
First International Cupule Conference in
Cochabamba in Bolivia in 2007 (Kumar
2007). A brief summary of it is being
presented here.
Janaki Lal Gujjar created replication cupule 169
RC-2. It is a big and deep cupule with smooth
surface and measures 55.7 x 55.0 x 9 mm. It
was produced by 16,800 strokes, in 132 min of
actual working in two days, on 12 and 13 June
2002 (Figure 8).
Janaki Lal started striking at a rate of 135
strikes/min. After 30 minutes the speed of his
striking reduced to 120 strikes/min. He used
two cobbles, No. 2 and 3. as hammerstones.
Cobble No. 3 was comparatively big and
round, flaked off at one portion, hence a
triangular stout point without cortex was
available to use as striking head. It proved to
be the most suitable hammerstone. Being a
left-hander, he did most of his work with his
left hand, but sometimes he also used his right
hand when he felt tired. The resultant
dimensions of the triangular striking end of
the first hammerstone (cobble No. 2) were 40
x 63 mm. The tool wear occurred along the
margin of the struck surface. Powerful strokes
by big hammerstones produced a big and deep
cupule with smooth surface, compared to soft
strokes by small hammerstones (being used by
another shepherd youth, Hira Lal Gujjar,
working on RC-1). Hira Lal produced a
comparatively small and shallow cupule
measuring 42.0 x 36.6 x 1.9 mm in dimension,
 Giriraj KUMAR & Ramkrishna PRAJAPATI
in 8490 soft strokes in actual work for 72 min
in one day on 12 June 2002.
Replication of cupules in 2004
To enrich our experience of cupule creation
and to record the process more systematically
we resumed the replication of cupule
production on the experimental rock on 19
and 20 June 2004. This time the replication
work was done not by rural youths as in 2002,
but by two urban youths, Ramkrishna and
Mangal Singh, The main objectives of this
exercise were:
1. To determine the duration required to
create a cupule.
2. To observe the gradual development in the
striking facet of the hammerstone.
Strokes were counted at 15-minute intervals.
The progressive diameter and depth of the
cupule in the process of its creation were
170
measured, also the dimensions of the
developing striking area of the hammerstone
at the same time. Both were photographed at
15-minute intervals.
As the details of the recording of the creation
of replicated cupules RC.3, 4 and 5 have
already been presented, here we are listing
only our observations.
Observations made in 2002 and 2004
1. Chips flaked off on both sides of the
striking end of the hammerstone (mur-e).
2. The processes of battering of the
hammerstone surface and chipping on
both its sides occur simultaneously. When
the hammerstone is struck forcefully, small
to big chips chipped off, resulting in an
elongated battered surface with chipping
marks on both sides, while on striking
normally and rhythmically only small chips
came out, and chipping remains minimum.
3. A broad cupule with irregular periphery
means that it was created by untrained
hands.
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4. Medium-size, deep cupules with regular
periphery can be produced by trained,
skilled and physically strong persons.
5. Broad deep cupules are executed by use of
multiple hammerstones with great patience
and commitment. Big, heavy hammers are
not practically useful for the creation of
such cupules.
6. After achieving a certain diameter and
depth, further strikes affect only the inner
portion of the cupule, thus the outer
diameter generally remains the same while
depth gradually increases. It is like cutting
through the earlier hammered surface.
7. The hammerstones yielded from the
Daraki-Chattan excavations are generally
similar to the initial stage of striking of the
experimental hammerstones. They were
used mostly at more than one point. It
means that the hammerstones we are
recovering in the excavations were not
used on one point for a long time, but
rather for short durations of direct
percussion.
Replication of cupules in 2008
The authors resumed the work of replicating
cupules from 25 to 27 December 2008. P. K.
Bhatt and Dinesh Kumar helped us in this
mission. This time our objective was to
replicate small cupules of conical shape (i.e.
cupules of category 2a).
We re-observed Daraki-Chattan Cave
carefully, especially comparatively small
cupules with conical shape. These appear to be
a work of patience and could have been
produced by steady and consistent strokes
with precision. We also observed that there are
some small and shallow cupules, which appear
to be left unfinished after some initial work.
Ramkrishna and Dinesh Kumar collected
suitable small cobbles from Patasighati to be
used as hammerstones in cupule replication.
Ramkrishna started work on replication cupule
6 (RC-6) at 3:40 pm on 25 December and
continued the experiment for the next two
days. Details of his work are given below:
 UNDERSTANDING THE CREATION OF CUPULES IN DARAKI-CHATTAN, ÍNDIA

We re-observed Daraki-Chattan Cave carefully, especially comparatively small cupules with conical
shape. These appear to be a work of patience and could have been produced by steady and consistent
strokes with precision. We also observed that there are some small and shallow cupules, which appear
to be left unfinished after some initial work. Ramkrishna and Dinesh Kumar collected suitable small
cobbles from Patasighati to be used as hammerstones in cupule replication. Ramkrishna started work
on replication cupule 6 (RC-6) at 3:40 pm on 25 December and continued the experiment for the
next two days. Details of his work are given below:

Date RC Phase of Time No. of HS No. Remarks

No. striking strokes

25 Dec RC-6 1 1 min 56 HS-1 HS-1, flat dark brown quartzite cobble,
3:40 pm 140.4 x 95.0 x 50.5 mm. Rejected because of
its fragile nature

2 4 min 317 HS-2 Patinated, quartzite cobble with purple

colour core, 118 x 75 x ? mm

3 2 min 173

4 2 min 194 Started going deep in to the cupule leaving

171
third stage surface towards periphery

5 2 min 169 Going deep

6 2 min 250 HS-3

7 2 min 206

8 2 min 203

9 2 min 185 RC-6 dimension: 26.4 x 25.7 x 2.4 mm

26 Dec 10 2 min 217 HS-4 HS-4, quartzite cobble with hard purple
11:30 core, 87 x 67 x 48 mm in dimension, striking
am end flat, 11 mm wide, broken from three
sides, retaining cortex on one side only.

11 2 min 208 Light stokes

12 2 min 162

13 2 min 174

14 2 min 234 Light strokes

15 2 min 214 Light strokes

16 2 min 268 Light strokes

17 2 min 315 Light strokes

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 Giriraj KUMAR & Ramkrishna PRAJAPATI

18 2 min 268 Light strokes

19 2 min 341 Light strokes

20 2 min 298 Light strokes

21 2 min 280 Light strokes

22 2 min 286 Dimension of RC-6: 28.0 x 27.9 x 3 mm,

Striking surface of HS-4: 19.5 x 11 mm

23 2 min 213 HS- The stone of HS-4 is very good, hence we

reused it as HS-4-5. To get pointed striking
4-5 head we flaked off certain portion from its
used striking head. After a lot of effort we
obtained a head of the dimension 19.5 x 3
mm.

24 2 min 430 Light stokes executed by G. Kumar

25 2 min 228

26 2 min 241
172
27 2 min 193

28 2 min 189

29 2 min 167 HS- Dimension of RC-6: 28.0 x 27.9 x 4 mm,

only depth is increasing.
4-5
Dimension of the striking head of HS-4-5:
19.5 x 4 mm, only width of striking head is
increasing.

Took a break.

30 2 min 195

31 2 min 209

32 2 min 212

33 2 min 187

34 2 min 162

35 2 min 226 Dimension of RC-6: 29.0 x 28.0 x 4.6 mm,

depth is increasing and diameter also slightly.

36 2min 177 HS- We again modified HS-4-5 to get pointed

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 UNDERSTANDING THE CREATION OF CUPULES IN DARAKI-CHATTAN, ÍNDIA

4-5-6 striking head. HS-4-5-6 dimensions 69.4 x

65.8 x 47.4 mm

37 2 min 218

38 2 min 160

27 Dec 39 2 min 130

10:25
am

40 2 min 156 Dimension of RC-6: 29.0 x 28.0 x 5.0 mm,

only depth is increasing.

Have to discard HS-6 having dimensions

69.4 x 65.8 x 47.4 mm

41 2 min 136 HS-7 A quartzite cobble from Patasighati, with

hard, purple colour core and nearly one mm-
thick weathered rind. It has a hard pointed
head with 13 mm wide base. Dimensions:
101.0 x 67.8 x 53.0 mm. 173
42 2 min 148

43 2 min 122

44 2 min 142

45 2 min 137 HS- HS-7 was modified to HS-7-8, dimensions

86.3 x 67.8 x 53.0 mm. It has a blunt point
7-8 and broad base.

46 2 min 202 Dimensions of RC-6: 32.5 x 30.6 x 6.0 mm.

A slight change in striking angle making the
lower side of HS touching the periphery of
the cupule, resulting in increasing its
diameter.

HS-7-8 broke down while modifying it for

further use, hence discarded.

47 2 min 540 HS-9 Light strokes by G. Kumar.

HS-9 is a quartzite cobble.

48 2 min 535 Light strokes by G. Kumar

49 2 min 538 Light strokes by G. Kumar

50 2 min 534 Light strokes by G. Kumar

51 2 min 211 Striking resumed by Ramkrihsna

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 Giriraj KUMAR & Ramkrishna PRAJAPATI

52 2 min 198

53 2 min 201

54 2 min 156 Dimension of RC-6: 32.5 x 32.5 x 6.6 mm.

HS-9 discarded at this stage, as fragments

had chipped from its head, now 19 x 13 mm
in size.

1:50 to 55 15 2170 HS-10 HS-10 is a small, flat quartzite cobble. 76.6 x

2:05 pm min 48.0 x ? mm.

2:10 to 56 15 2168
2:25 pm min

2:35 to 57 15 2162 HS-10 after 45 min of its use: 76.6 x 48.0 x

min 20.4 mm.
2:50 pm
Dimension of RC-6: 32.5 x 30.6 x 8.0 mm,
only depth is increasing

58 2 min 240 HS-11 HS-11 is a flake that had naturally become

detached from a quartzite cobble with hard,
174
purple core from Patasighati. Its dimensions:
56.0 x 57.0 x 28.6 mm.

59 2 min 180

60 2 min 130 Striking head of the HS-11 became quite

blunt, hence discarded.

61 12 2100 HS-10- Used HS-10 it was modified to HS-12, after

min 12 12 min use, 58.4 x 46.7 x 21.2 mm.

Dimensions of RC-6: 33.5 x 32.5 x 9.0 mm.

It is of conical shape.

1- Table 1. Details of work done on RC-6 by Ramkrishna.

4 / Tendências recentes na pesquisa mundial da arte rupestre – Recent Trends In World Rock Art Research
 UNDERSTANDING THE CREATION OF CUPULES IN DARAKI-CHATTAN, ÍNDIA

Date RC Phase of Time HS Remarks

No. striking No.

26 Dec RC-7 1 15 min, HS-1 HS-1. It is a patinated cobble from Patasighati

with purple colour core. 81.7 x 59.7 x 44.7 mm
12:00 12:00-12:15 pm

noon

2 15 min,

12:20-

12:35 pm

3 15 min,

1:00-

1:15 pm

4 05 min, HS-2 HS-2 dimension: 91.7 x 69.7 x 45 mm. It is a

flat quartzite cobble, dark-brown in colour
3:10-
175
3:15 pm

5 15 min,

3:25-

3:40 pm

6 15 min,

3:45-

4:00 pm

7 10 min HS-3 HS-3 is a hard quartzite cobble, 138 x 84 x 80

mm in dimension, used from two stout
4:00- opposite ends.

4:15 pm

8 15 min,

4:20-

4:35 pm

9 15 min, HS-4 HS-4 is a quartzite cobble. Dimension of RC-7

at stage-9: 34 x 30 x 5 mm
5:00-

5:15 am

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 Giriraj KUMAR & Ramkrishna PRAJAPATI

27 Dec 10 15 min, HS-5

10:30 10:30-10:45 am
am

11 15 min, HS-5-6 HS-5 has to be modified to HS-5-6. New

dimension: 118.8 x 77.0 x 42
10:50-11:05 am

12 15 min,

11:10-11:25 am

13 15 min,

11:35-11:50 am

14 15 min,

12:00-12:15 pm

15 10 min, After stage-15, HS-5-6 has to be modified to

HS-5-6-7
12:20-
176
12:30 pm

16 15 min, HS-5- After stage-16 dimension of RC-7 is

6-7
12:45- 38.4 x 32.3 x 6.4 mm. After stage-16, HS-5-6-7
was again modified to HS-5-6-7-8
1:00 pm

17 15 min, HS-5-
6-7-8
2:15-

2:30 pm

18 20 min, Striking head of the HS has become round,

21.8 x 20.0 mm. After stage-18 dimension of
2:35- RC-7 is 49.0 x 32.5 x 6.5 mm.
2:55 pm

Table 2. Details of work done on replication cupule RC-7 by Dinesh Kumar on 26 and 27
December 2008. Number of strokes not counted in this case.

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 UNDERSTANDING THE CREATION OF CUPULES IN DARAKI-CHATTAN, ÍNDIA

Year and Person Details No., shape No. of Duration No. Comments
dates of and of
replicating of the strokes of actual days
Cupule worker dimension of
cupule used work in
work
Replication of
replicated minutes

cupule

2002 Janakilal A young RC-2, 17,300 138 min 2 days It is a work more of
Gujjar saucer-like strength and commitment,
June 12-13 shepherd big cupule, strokes and less of mind.
from Hammerstone has to be
village 55.7 x 55.0 lifted up to the level of
x 9 mm shoulder (28 to 30 cm) to
exert great power and
strength to it while
striking. Use of big cobbles
as HS.

2004 Ramkrishna Hr sec RC-5, 21,730 240 min, 2 days Produced by untrained
student broad, deep hands with enthusiasm. 177
June 19-20 from city strokes in phases
Cupule with of 15 min Hammerstone has to be
irregular lifted up to the level of
duration shoulder to exert great
Periphery. power and strength to it
while striking. Use of big
77.7 x 59.0
cobbles as HS.
x 6.7 mm

2008 Diniesh Villager RC-7, deep Strokes 255 min, 2 days Number of strokes not
Kumar saucer like not recorded to obtain result
Dec 26-27 small counted in one fast. Used both pebbles
cupule, phase of and cobbles as
15 min hammerstones, and lifted it
49.0 x 32.5 15 to 17 cm to exert
x 6.5 mm duration
pressure and power on it.
It is a work of patience.

2008 Ramkrishna Student RC-6, Small 21,661 162 min, 3 days Steady work with precision
from city cupule with in phases and concentration, with
Dec 25-27 conical strokes of 2 min recordings at short
depth, intervals. It is a work of
duration comparatively soft strokes
33.5 x 32.5 made by small
x 9.0 mm. hammerstones, by lifting
them only up to a height of
5 to 6 cm

Table 3. Comparative summary of the cupule replication experiment.

Congresso Internacional da IFRAO 2009 – Piauí / BRASIL

 Giriraj KUMAR & Ramkrishna PRAJAPATI
Observations 2008
Ramkrishna created RC-6 in comparatively
soft 21,661 strokes, in actual work of 162
minutes in three days. He created RC-6 is with
conical shape, measuring 33.5 x 32.5 x 9.0
mm. To produce it we maintained the time of
striking phases mostly of 2 min duration, and
properly recorded the process. Ramkrishna
used cobbles of different size as
hammerstones, which were generally collected
from Patasighati and are of highly
metamorphosed hard, purple-red colour core
and a thin weathering rind around them. They
also had stout points and broad bases, suitable
for holding with a firm grip while using them
as hammerstones. Ramkrishna used 12
hammerstones to produce the cupule, out of
which cobble HS-4 was used three times as
HS-4, 5 and 6, and that of HS-7 and HS-10 for
two times as HS-7 and 8 and HS-10 and 12
respectively, as the quality of hardness of their
stone was superior. To obtain a stout point on
178
the used striking-head we have to modify it by
taking out some flakes.
Dinesh Kumar created RC-7 in actual work of
255 minute in two days. It is 49.0 x 32.5 x 6.5
mm in dimension and looks like a deep saucer.
To create this cupule in a comparatively short
period we did not count strokes, and each
phase of striking lasted for 15 min instead of
the 2 min of Ramkrishna.
Dinesh used eight hammerstones to produce
it, out of which cobble HS-5 was used for four
times as HS-5 and 6, 7 and 8 by using it at
different points and modifying it again and
again. He generally used quartzite cobbles of
different size from Patasighati as
hammerstones. They were having at least one
or more stout point and are suitable for
holding with a firm grip while using them as
hammerstones.
Observations 2008-2009 (Figures 9 and 10)
1. The processes of battering of the
hammerstone head and chipping on its
sides occur simultaneously. When the
hammerstone is struck forcefully, small to
big chips chipped off, resulting in an
4 / Tendências recentes na pesquisa mundial da arte rupestre – Recent Trends In World Rock Art Research
elongated battered surface with chipping
marks on its both sides, while on striking
normally and rhythmically only small chips
came out, and chipping remains minimal.
2. Cupule creation on a hard quartzite
vertical rock is a tough job. It requires
involvement, commitment, great patience,
consistency, devotion, strength,
concentration and dedication. Small
cupules with an average diameter of 25 to
28 mm and depth of 6 to 8.4 mm are the
work of immense skill and great patience
with steady and consistent strokes
executed with precision.
3. Most of the cupules in Daraki-Chattan
Cave are perfect in terms of regular form,
design and execution (of course, there are a
few which are neither circular nor
rectangular). Hence, they appear to have
been produced with controlled and perfect
strokes. Not a single stroke has gone
outside. Sometimes when two or more
cupules have been made side by side, even
then their edges are perfect, and not mixed
with each other. It means strokes were
very precise and were executed with sharp
focus and total concentration.
4. Our practical experience shows that even
if we work with total concentration, it is
not possible to remain so for long time.
During the process some moments come
when for a fraction of a second we lose
concentration and a stroke becomes
uncontrolled. Such uncontrolled impact
results in the increase in diameter,
especially when working on a small cupule.
It means perfect small cupules were not
made in a short duration. Rather, it appears
to be the result of a long process of
working in many phases of short duration.
5. Only an expert with regular practice can
bear the rebound power and pain of the
strokes to strike properly in the course of
working. An inexperienced person,
without exercise and practice, when
working on cupules find that after a short
time (within one or two hours) his hand
starts shaking (shivering) with pain. Eyes
becoming ‘stiff’ with constant focus. At
 UNDERSTANDING THE CREATION OF CUPULES IN DARAKI-CHATTAN, ÍNDIA
this moment even the movement of eyelids
interrupts the focus.
6. In the process of cupule creation higher
lifting of the hand for striking means more
powerful but less controlled strokes. It
happens when we use large-size
hammerstones. Lower lifting of the hand
yields strokes with comparatively less
power, but increased control, hence more
precision. It is possible with comparatively
small-size hammerstones. This observation
indicates that big cupules were produced
by robust striking with involvement and
dedication, but not much attention.
Reduction in size with increased depth of
cupule means proper planning, great
involvement, dedication, concentration
and patience. It means comparatively high
intelligence and skill are essential for
producing small-deep cupules.
7. Our experiment shows that after achieving
a certain diameter of the cupule by initial
striking, it becomes possible to strike in the
centre of it. Thus, if we are using a
hammerstone with a stout head and broad
base, in the process of striking depth
increases in the centre. But, after a certain
point it starts cutting into the rim of the
cupule because of the broad base of the
striking head. Hence, we obtain an almost
conical shape of the cupule.
8. It is essential to keep the base of the
striking head broad so that the latter can
bear the force of direct percussion,
otherwise it breaks down.
9. That is why, if we want to keep the
diameter of the cupule as small as possible
while going deep in to it, we have to keep
on either changing the hammerstones or
modifying the used striking head to get a
stout point out of it from time to time. We
discovered such a hammerstone with used
stout head and broad base from layer 4 in
the excavation of Daraki-Chattan. This
provides a solid ground to correlate some
of the conical cupules in the cave to the
Acheulian culture of layer 4.
10. Striking produces a sound of high pitch,
hence continuous striking renders the ears
dumb for some time.
Congresso Internacional da IFRAO 2009 – Piauí / BRASIL
11. Cupule creation is definitely neither a
leisure work nor a ludic activity. It might
be associated with something specific,
deeply related with life. It is also possible
that cupule creation might be associated
with rhythm of some sort of music and
singing. It is apparent from our
observation while replicating the cupules.
On the second day on 26 December 2008,
Ramkrishna resumed working on RC-6.
GK also put Dinesh to work on RC-7,
close to Ramkrishna. Soon Ramkrishna
started losing concentration by the sound
produced by arrhythmic strokes of Dinesh.
But, after some time the striking of
Ramkrihsna automatically became
synchronised with that of Dinesh. It means
cupules in Daraki-Chattan might have
been produced either one after the other
individually, or on the rhythm of some
music. The possibility of latter appears
strong. 179
12. Cupule replication should be made at
suitable height for convenient striking. If
RC-6 might have been 20 cm downwards,
it might have made difference for better
performance. In this regard when we
observe the cupules made on the walls of
the cave close to the bedrock of the floor,
the task of their production appears very
difficult.
13. Oval and elongated cupules with angular
depth and also small and deep cupules with
angular depth cannot be produced by
simple striking. These must have been the
product of some refined technology and
special skill. We will try for their
replication next time.
Final comments
1. In Daraki-Chattan, cupules of category-1
appear to be the work more of strength
and commitment and less of mind. They
were produced by using a very simple and
primitive technology of direct percussion.
They appear to represent the earliest stage
of cupule production. Our cupule
replication experiment indicates that to
produce cupules of category 1a requires
 Giriraj KUMAR & Ramkrishna PRAJAPATI

two to six hammerstones on cobbles to

produce such cupules, depending on the
quality of the stone used and the strength
of the person at work. It is a tough and
tedious task to produce a cupule on hard
quartzite rock. It requires motivation, 3. Cupule creation is definitely not a leisure
commitment, strength, endurance and activity. It is a very tough job and appears
patience for their production. Cupules of to be closely associated with something
category 1b can be produced similarly by special and deeply related with life.
using hammerstone with stout and sturdy
striking heads. It needs longer duration of
Acknowledgements
work and high concentration besides all
the above-mentioned qualities. At the same Rock Art Society of India
time it requires use of multiple Dr P.K. Bhatt, Dinesh Kumar, Janaki Lal
hammerstones to achieve deep round and Gujjar, Bhanpura
smooth depth. Geeta Devi, Agra
2. Cupules of category 2 are comparatively Robert G. Bednarik, AURA and IFRAO,
small and of conical shape, particularly of Australia
category 2a. We successfully replicated
them in December 2008. They appear to
be the work of modified technology of
direct percussion, which requires proper
180
planning, immense skill and great precision
and patience. The person at work on
cupule production cannot afford a wrong
stroke, even in a thousand ones, as it
increases the diameter of the cupule.

Figure 1.
Daraki-Chattan Cave in the quartzite
buttresses of Indragarh Hill near
Bhanpura in district Mandsaur, Madhya
Pradesh in Chambal basin

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 UNDERSTANDING THE CREATION OF CUPULES IN DARAKI-CHATTAN, ÍNDIA

Figure 2.

Slabs bearing cupules obtained from Lower

Palaeolithic deposits in the excavations of Daraki-
Chattan from 2002 to 2006: (a) from layer 3, in
seven pieces joined together; (b) and (c) big slab
lying in situ in layer 5 (in the lower left side of the
image), bearing a big deep cupule, and close-up of
the same; (d) and (e) a slab lying in layer 5/6,
bearing an oval/elliptical cupule (broken) and
close-up of the same.

(a)

181

(b) (c)

(d) (e)

Congresso Internacional da IFRAO 2009 – Piauí / BRASIL

 Giriraj KUMAR & Ramkrishna PRAJAPATI

(a) (b)

Figure 3. Some of the hammerstones (HS)

obtained from Lower Palaeolithic deposits in the
excavations of Daraki-Chattan from 2002 to 2006:
(a) HS from layer 6; (b) HS from layer 4.

182

(a)

Figure 4. (a) Southern wall of Daraki-Chattan bearing

cupules. (b) A group of cupules on the southern wall of
Daraki-Chattan.

(b)

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 UNDERSTANDING THE CREATION OF CUPULES IN DARAKI-CHATTAN, ÍNDIA

(a) (b)

Figure 5.
183
Cupules of different shape, size and categories of
depth in Daraki-Chattan Cave: (a) bowl-shape cupule
on northern wall; (b) oval-shape cupule on northern
wall; (c) small cupules with conical shape on southern
wall; (d) small cupule with triangular periphery and
triangular shape on southern wall; (e) small cupule
with oblique shape on southern wall.

(c)

(e) (f)

Congresso Internacional da IFRAO 2009 – Piauí / BRASIL

 Giriraj KUMAR & Ramkrishna PRAJAPATI

(a) (b)

Figure 6. (a) The quartzite vertical rock face in a small rock shelter in the left side (south) of and close to
Daraki-Chattan. On this rock face experiments of cupule replication have being carried on since 2002. (b)
Close up of the group of replicated cupules.

184

Figure 7. Ramkrishna on work of replication of cupule RC 9 in June 2009.

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 UNDERSTANDING THE CREATION OF CUPULES IN DARAKI-CHATTAN, ÍNDIA

(a) (b)
Figure 8. (a) Replicated cupule, RC-2; (b) one of the hammerstones with broad striking head used for its
replication in 2002.

185

Figure 9. Replicated cupule RC-9.

(a) (b)

Figure 10.
(a) One of the hammerstones used for replication of RC-9; (b) close-up of its striking head after its use.

Congresso Internacional da IFRAO 2009 – Piauí / BRASIL

 Giriraj KUMAR & Ramkrishna PRAJAPATI

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WATCHMAN, and R. G. ROBERTS. 2005.
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KUMAR, G. 1995a. Daraki-Chattan: a

Palaeolithic cupule site in India. Purakala 6 (1-
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KUMAR, G. 1995b. Petroglyphs in the rock

art of Chambal valley and Aravalli Hills: a new
phenomenon. Paper presented in the
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KUMAR, G. 1996. Daraki-Chattan: a

186 Palaeolithic cupule site in India. Rock Art
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4 / Tendências recentes na pesquisa mundial da arte rupestre – Recent Trends In World Rock Art Research