Ancient Gufkral caves in Kashmir's Tral on brink of collapse, locals seek preservation

Pulwama, Feb 16: An octogenarian, Rehmati Begum, who was married around half a century ago, was shifted from a cave in Gufkral, Tral, to a house made of bricks in Chandgam, Pulwama.

“I was born in the cave and was married from there,” she recalled while pointing to the cave near their newly constructed house in the village of Gufkral.

Gufkral is derived from two Kashmiri words, “Guf”, meaning cave, and “Kral”, meaning potter. Together, they form Gufkral, which translates to “potters of caves.” The small hamlet is located around 25 km from Pulwama district, situated on the kerawas of Hurdmir.

The neolithic site, though vital to the history of Kashmir, has faced decay and nothing substantial is being done to preserve it.

This village has witnessed the closure of a few caves due to soil erosion over the past few years.

Abdul Khaliq Dar, a local potter, while speaking to Greater Kashmir, said they are afraid to go inside these caves due to their deteriorating condition. “Since the 2014 floods in Kashmir, these caves are on the brink of collapse,” he said, expressing disappointment over the inaction of authorities.

Around 90 percent of the people in this village are potters, and they still use these caves as drying yards for their earthen pots.

According to a research paper published in the Journal of Archaeological Studies of India, Gufkral has provided crucial insights into the development of neolithic-megalithic cultures in Kashmir.

Excavations at the site have revealed significant changes in settlement patterns, subsistence methods, and “tool technology” over different periods. The discovery of various pits from the neolithic phase suggests that early inhabitants lived in underground dwellings. Initially reliant on hunting and fishing, they later turned to agriculture and animal domestication. Carbon-14 dating indicates that the megalithic period at Gufkral began around 1800-1300 BCE, bringing major cultural advancements, including the introduction of rice cultivation and iron tools.

This historical legacy needs to be preserved to prevent further collapse, and immediate action should be taken, locals said.