Ratnagiri's 12,000 Year-Old Geoglyphs Clash with Industrial Oil Refinery Ambitions of India

Proposed oil refinery developments might jeopardize the 12,000-year-old geoglyphs found in Ratnagiri.

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Especially, these prehistoric paintings shed light on prehistoric human communities and extinct animals.

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The possible threats to these prehistoric sculptures have been communicated to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

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Ratnagiri's more than 1,500 petroglyphs tell the story of a primordial epic that is being threatened by industrial aspirations.

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Concerns over the preservation of these ancient treasures versus contemporary development were voiced by the Bombay High Court.

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Many of these geoglyphs are on UNESCO's preliminary list of world cultural assets, demonstrating their importance on a worldwide scale.

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Unaware of the geoglyphs' significance, the locals have unintentionally taken on the role of stewards of this antiquated heritage.

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The future of Ratnagiri's geoglyphs is in the balance between conservation and advancement, with a hearing scheduled on April 24.

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