CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES AND ROCK ART OF INDIA

This paper investigates the urgent threat posed by climate change to rock art sites across India, emphasizing their vulnerability and the necessity for immediate preservation efforts. Utilizing data from various climate science studies and conservation reports, this research highlights how rising temperatures, increased precipitation variability, and extreme weather events are accelerating the degradation of these ancient artworks. Rock art sites from Ladakh and Zanskar Valley to Central India and the Northeast face intensified natural weathering, erosion, and biological growth due to climate change. Research shows that climate-induced moisture increases biological colonization, while temperature fluctuations cause physical stress on rock surfaces. To mitigate these threats, this paper advocates for advanced monitoring and documentation, climate-adaptive conservation techniques, collaborative research and policy development, and community engagement and education. Immediate and sustained efforts are essential to mitigate the ongoing and future impacts of climate change on India's rock art, ensuring the preservation of these invaluable cultural artifacts for future generations.