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Prehistoric India ; And Traditions Which May Survive From It


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#1 Anew

Anew

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Posted 5 April 2011 - 10:54

I believe it is likely that traditional cultures retain aspects of their prehistoric pasts ; and that while these may be local or regional improvisations or adaptations, the geographically broadest expressions appear to have, (or reference), roots in human Urkultur . This photo, of a woman's sleeve tattoos from Birbhum, India –– of which its is said,

Quote

In addition to being a confluence of Vaishnava, Shakta and Saiva cultures, Birbhum villages also observe prehistoric customs like worship of gramdevta (gram means village and devta means deity) in many forms at different places.

~ Wikipedia on Birbhum
–– has a number of elements which remind of, (or recall), the Neolithic of Western Europe ; (Britain and Ireland in particular) . On her right arm, the Grooved Ware like patterns set between Beaker Ware like lateral bands are food for thought . [One illustration of Grooved Ware can be found on p.113 of Julian Thomas' Understanding the Neolithic] . It might be compared with this photo, from Benin, Africa, showing a hut with similar walls . [The similarity between Beaker Ware and the hut may offer a window into the development of, and symbolism attached to, that style of pottery] . The groupings of three dots at the top of the sleeve recall the Towie Petrosphere .

The mound? / tunnel? symbol above her right wrist recalls carvings at Knowth : here ; possibly here ; at the upper right here ; here ; and to some extent the sundial stone, here –– and at Newgrange : possibly here ; and on the noteworthy Kerbstone 52, where (speculatively) groupings of three cupmarks may have held third-eye symbolism ; [The Tanzanian cheek and forehead markings linked to this post might also be considered in the third/spirit eye context .

Newgrange, (our hosts' page here, TMA's here), also has many examples of zig-zags ; strongly represented in her tattoos and across much of the milieu . There, this stone bears a resemblance to a pattern on her right arm . Also there, the diamond/lozenge motif is combined with spirals, here in the company of chained triangles, and here with zig-zags . Similarly, her left arm shows spirals –– speculatively representative of fish traps –– in the company of diamonds/lozenges developed into fish .

Interesting .



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