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Prehistoric period means the time before history. There is no written history of this period. We can find out about the life of man at that time only by implements and weapons found in caves and cave paintings of that period. Prehistoric period can be divided into Stone Age and metal age. Metal age is further subdivided into Bronze Age and Iron Age. Similarly Stone Age can be subdivided into Palaeolithic or Old Stone Age, Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age and Neolithic or New Stone Age.

1. Palaeolithic Age– During this period implements were not very good. They were not sharp. Such implements have been found in Mahanadi valley and in Singhanpur in Raigarh district.
2. Mesolithic Age – Implements were better designed in this age. They were lunar shaped with long blades. They were relatively small. These have been found in Kabra Pahar in Raigarh.
3. Neolithic Age – Smaller and sharper implements were used in this period. These were tied to wooden sticks or bamboos and used are arrows or spears. These have been found in Mahanadi valley, in Bilaspur district and in Singhanpur.

Bronze and Iron Age – Bronze period came after the Stone Age. Man learn making Bronze during this period. After that Iron was discovered and this period is called the Iron Age. Many implements of this period have not been found in Chhattisgarh. Some implements have been found in Dhamtari and near Balod.

Many cave paintings of Stone Age and Metal Age have been found in Chhattisgarh. They were discovered first by C.W. Anderson an Engineer in Bengal Nagpur Railways, in 1910. He was assisted by C. J. Wellington. Many other archeologists worked on these paintings after this. These paintings were first published in India Paintings in 1918 and then in the 13th edition of Encyclopedia Britannica. Anarnath Dutta surveyed these caves from 1923 to 1927. Dr. N. Gosh, D.H. Garden, Pt. Lochan Prasad Pandey etc. have studied and published about these paintings. The cavepaintings of Chitwa Dongri were discovered by Bhagwan Singh Baghel and Ramendra Nath Mishra. Survey of stone memorials of Dhanora was done by Professor J R Kambley and Ramendra Nath Mishra.

These paintings are found mostly in Raigarh district in Singhanpur, Kabra Pahar, Basnajhar, Ongna, Karamgarh, Kairpur, Botalda, Bhanwarkhol, Amargufa, Gatadih, Siroli Dongri, Baini Pahar etc. There are paintings of birds, snakes, elephants, buffalos, dear, wild boar and scenes of hunts and dances.

Description of main cave paintings of Chhattisgarh

1. Singhanpur – There are paintings of men in the shape of sticks and ladders. There are paintings of mermaid, hunting scenes, dances, etc. These paintings are compared with the ladder like man paintings found in Australia.
2. Kabra Pahar – This is near Vishwanathpali in Raigarh. The painings are in ochre. There are paintings of lizards, Sambhar dear, crocodiles, etc. there are also the oldest paintings of hunting scenes. Lunate blade implements of Stone Age have also been found here.
3. Basnajhar – It is at height of 2000 feet 8 Kms from Singhanpur. There are paintings of hunts and dances and also of men and wild animals here. The only paining of an elephant found in Raigarh is also here.
4. Ongna – Paintings of men with headgear can be seen in Ongna. there are also paintings in the shape of a watch probably depicting a compass.
5. Karmagarh- This is 30 Kms from Raigarh. It has more than 300 paintings in an area which is 300 feet long and 20 feet wide. It has paintings of mermaids etc. the paintings are mainly in white and yellow colour.