Modular Symmetry and Cognitive Erasure: Reassessing Procedural Interpretation in the Bhimbetka Cross-Form Grids

A groundbreaking analysis of geometric grids in the rock art of Bhimbetka challenges conventional symbolic interpretations, revealing structural evidence for procedural abstraction in early South Asian cultures. By applying modular symmetry mapping and stochastic simulation to two cross-form grid compositions, researchers demonstrate that these designs exhibit architectural capacity for rule-governed multi-agent systems, suggesting a functional, possibly ludic purpose rather than purely symbolic meaning. The study highlights the potential marginalization of operational cognition when geometric forms are prematurely assigned symbolic significance, advocating for a methodological shift that prioritizes structural diagnostics before attributing meaning.

Gemsofindology, & M K. (2026). Modular Symmetry and Cognitive Erasure: Reassessing Procedural Interpretation in the Bhimbetka Cross-Form Grids. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.18812303