Udupi: A bullock cart etched on a rock is a rare art of sculpture, but that is what Prof. Ushadevi and her students of ancient history at Govt. College, Heggada Devana Kote, discovered recently.

This stone cart with two moving bulls is made in Granite, and is 2 feet high. They are not panel figures as in Satvahana era, but carved of a rock, with a cartman holding a whip in one hand and reins in the other.

Wheels are rounded off in movement. Such carts are still in use today said the history professors Murugeshi and Rajashekar who dated the scene to 10th century as a cart on stone of Punnata era.

The region has Rivers Kaveri and kabini. Punnata(or Punt) rulers were related to Kodambas and Gangas of 3rd or 4th Century AD. Egyption king Ptolmey knew the land as Pounnata(high land). Kittur was the capital of this coastal land, having trade with overseas Egypt by naval expeditions.

The bullock cart on stone brings back nostalgic memories of a past kingdom.