Rudrapur, Oct. 6 -- The process of carbon dating the cave art in the Lakhudiyar rock shelter near Almora has begun, officials with the regional archaeological office said on Sunday. According to CS Chauhan, regional state archaeological officer, the office has sought assistance from National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC), Lucknow, and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), New Delhi, to carry out the analysis. "In our opinion, these rock paintings and engravings were created nearly 6,000 years ago," said Chauhan. Preliminary analysis suggests that some of the paintings date back to at least around 4000 BCE, he added. "We want to ascertain the precise timeline of Lakhudiyar through scientific analysis. Requests have been sent to NRLC and INTACH for carbon dating," he said. Chauhan added that up to 12 similar sites have been identified between the Suyal and Kosi rivers, and also at Berinag in Pithoragarh. Located on the banks of the Suyal river, around 15 km from Almora on the Barechhina road, Lakhudiyar is regarded as one of the most important prehistoric sites in Uttarakhand. The rock surface bears striking depictions of humans, animals and abstract geometric forms. Officials, however, expressed concern over the site's vulnerability to vandalism. "Tourists often deface the rock by scribbling their names, and with no security arrangements in place, its preservation remains a challenge," Chauhan warned. Carbon dating, a method that measures the radioactive decay of carbon isotopes in organic material, can determine the age of artifacts up to 50,000 years old. Experts say that the process of establishing Lakhudiyar's timeline could provide invaluable insights into the lives of prehistoric humans in the Himalayan region....