Research Paper
Geoglyphs in India: Landscape, Practice, and Perception (A Comparative Analysis of Konkan and Jaisalmer)
Authors: Tanya Tibrewal, Vasant Shinde & Sachin Kr. Tiwary
Year: 2026, Volume: 17, Page/Article: 133-162, DOI: https://doi.org/10.47509/AA.2026.v17i.09
Abstract
Geoglyphs constitute a distinctive form of large-scale landscape modification, reflecting complex interactions between human societies and their environments. While extensively studied in regions such as South America, geoglyph traditions in India remain comparatively underexplored. This paper examines geoglyphs from the Konkan and Jaisalmer regions using an integrated approach that combines morphological analysis, spatial context, and theoretical interpretation. Drawing upon phenomenology and the concept of taskscape, the study interprets geoglyphs not merely as visual representations but as embodied practices embedded within lived landscapes.
The analysis reveals significant regional variation. Konkan geoglyphs, characterized by figurative motifs and reductive engraving techniques, suggest localized, ritualized engagements with laterite plateaus, potentially dating to the Mesolithic period. In contrast, the large-scale geometric formations of Jaisalmer, likely of more recent origin, indicate movement-oriented spatial practices associated with routes, memorial landscapes, and desert navigation. This contrast challenges the notion of a unified geoglyph tradition in India and instead points to episodic and context-specific developments shaped by environmental and cultural factors.
By situating Indian geoglyphs within broader theoretical and comparative frameworks, the study contributes to global discussions on landscape archaeology, emphasizing the experiential, performative, and processual dimensions of large-scale earthworks.
Keywords: Geoglyphs, Intaglios, Petroglyphs, Jaisalmer, Konkan, Rock art.