<P> The rock shelters and caves of Bhimbetka have a large number of paintings . The oldest paintings are found to be 30,000 years old, but some of the geometric figures date to as recently as the medieval period . The colors used are vegetable colors which have endured through time because the drawings were generally made deep inside a niche or on inner walls . The drawings and paintings can be classified under seven different periods . </P> <P> Period I--(Upper Paleolithic): These are linear representations, in green and dark red, of huge figures of animals such as bison, tigers and rhinoceroses . </P> <P> Period II--(Mesolithic): Comparatively small in size the stylised figures in this group show linear decorations on the body . In addition to animals there are human figures and hunting scenes, giving a clear picture of the weapons they used: barbed spears, pointed sticks, bows and arrows . Some scenes are interpreted as depicting tribal war between three tribes symbolised by their animal totems . The depiction of communal dances, birds, musical instruments, mothers and children, pregnant women, men carrying dead animals, drinking and burials appear in rhythmic movement . </P> <P> Period III--(Chalcolithic) Similar to the paintings of the Mesolithic, these drawings reveal that during this period the cave dwellers of this area were in contact with the agricultural communities of the Malwa plains, exchanging goods with them . </P>

The shelter in madhya pradesh which is also a world heritage site