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ENHI

RAS question

The rock shelters of Bhimbetka were discovered by:

Correct answer: (C) V.S. Wakankar.

The rock shelters of Bhimbetka were discovered by V.S. Wakankar in 1957.

  1. (A)

    Mortimer Wheeler

  2. (B)

    Robert Bruce Foote

  3. (C)

    V.S. Wakankar

  4. (D)

    H.D. Sankalia

Explanation

V.S. Wakankar is the archaeologist associated with the discovery of the Bhimbetka rock shelters. The UNESCO nomination text states that the site complex was discovered by V.S. Wakankar in 1957, which matches the standard RAS framing of 1957-58. Bhimbetka lies in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, and its importance comes from the long cultural sequence visible in the shelters. The paintings are described as ranging from the Mesolithic period through later historical or mediaeval phases, making the site central to questions on Indian prehistory, rock art and early human occupation. That is why Wakankar, rather than better-known figures linked with Harappan or other prehistoric work, is the correct answer here.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) Mortimer Wheeler is linked with excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, not with the discovery of the Bhimbetka rock shelters.
  • (B) Robert Bruce Foote is associated with the first Palaeolithic tool discovery in India at Pallavaram, so his work points to early stone tools rather than Bhimbetka.
  • (D) H.D. Sankalia worked on Deccan prehistoric sites, but the Bhimbetka discovery is specifically credited to V.S. Wakankar.

Concept

This tests the RAS ancient-history theme of Indian prehistory, especially rock art and archaeological discoverers. Bhimbetka recurs because it links a named scholar, a protected site in Madhya Pradesh and Mesolithic-to-mediaeval paintings in one compact fact cluster.

Source

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