Doddalathur Megalithic Burial Site

October 7, 2024

GS Paper I History

A team of history and archaeology scholars from the University of Mysore have embarked on an excavation of megalithic burial sites in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka

Doddalathur Megalithic Burial Site

Location: The megalithic site is located in a small valley formed by the Male Mahadeshwara Hill ranges.
It dates back to the Megalithic-Iron Age (1200 BCE to 300 CE).
The site features burials marked by large stone boulders in circular arrangements.
Discovery: In 1961 by C Krishnamurti of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

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About the Current Excavation

Objective:
- To explore megalithic-iron age culture in southern Karnataka.
- To gather scientific dating and cultural insights from the site.
The department previously excavated the nearby habitation-cum-megalithic burial site of Budipadaga, 20 km from Doddalathur, in 2021 and 2022.

Aspect	Paleolithic	Mesolithic	Neolithic
Period	2.5 million years ago to 10,000 BCE	10,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE	8,000 BCE to 3,000 BCE
Habitat	Caves, temporary shelters, open plains	Semi-permanent camps near water sources	Permanent settlements, farming villages
Key Findings	Stone tools (e.g., hand axes), cave art, early fire usage	Microliths (small stone tools), bone tools, art (petroglyphs)	Agricultural tools, pottery, domesticated plants and animals
Lifestyle	Hunter-gatherers, nomadic lifestyle	Transition to more sedentary life, seasonal migration	Farming, animal husbandry, social stratification, trade

About Megaliths

A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones.
They were constructed either as burial sites or commemorative (non-sepulchral) memorials.
The megalithic monuments of peninsular India, believed to have been erected in the Iron Age (1500 BC – 200 AD).
Origin: As megalithic societies were preliterate, the racial or ethnic origins of the megalithic people are thus difficult to pin down.
Geographical Coverage: Though megalithic sites are found all across India, they are concentrated mostly in peninsular India.

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Types of Megaliths

Underground Components:
- Pit Burials: Unlined pits where one or more bodies are buried.
- Cist Burials: Stone-lined rectangular graves often used for burials.
- Urn Burials: Terracotta urns used to hold the mortal remains.
- Sarcophagus Burials: Terracotta receptacles, often with lids, sometimes shaped like animals.
Surface Components:
- Menhirs: Large, unshaped stones or minimally altered boulders, used as markers or memorials.
- Boulder Circles: Circular arrangements of rocks or boulders, marking burial sites.
- Cairns: Mounds of earth, often covering burials or other structures.
- Dolmenoid Cists: Partially underground stone structures with a capstone.
- Dolmens: Freestanding stone structures with a large capstone placed on upright stones.
These elements form an important part of ancient burial practices and memorial structures found in various archaeological sites worldwide.
Some of the significant Megalithic Burial sites are mentioned in the following table.

State	Burial Sites	Features/Components Found
Jharkhand	Seraikela	Megalithic burials, large stone structures, urn burials, associated with iron age tools and artifacts.
Uttarakhand	Deodhoora (Almora district)	Early human habitation, rock shelters, and megalithic burial remains.
Uttar Pradesh	Koldihwa (Belan Valley), Banda, Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Varanasi	Chalcolithic materials, evidence of early agricultural practices, copper tools, and pottery.
Kerala	Thrissur, Kunnattur	Megalithic burial sites with Topikal, urn burials, stone circles, dolmens, and pottery artefacts.
Kashmir	Waztal, Burzahom, Brah	Burzahom: Pit dwellings, Neolithic to Megalithic transition, animal bones, tools, and ceramics.
Karnataka	Maski, Hallur, Chandravalli, Hire Benakal, Coorg, Heggadehalli, Brahmagiri	Megalithic dolmens, cist burials, iron tools, pottery, skeletal remains, evidence of early agriculture.
Andhra Pradesh	Nagarjunakonda	Buddhist relics, stupa remains, Megalithic burials, urn burials, stone tools, and pottery.
Maharashtra	Junapani, Khapa, Mahurjhari, Naikund (near Nagpur), Pune	Megalithic burials, stone circles, urn burials, copper and iron tools, skeletal remains, pottery, and beads.
Tamil Nadu	Adichanallur, Sanur, Kodumanal, Perumbair	Urn burials, iron implements, pottery, skeletal remains, and evidence of trade with ancient civilizations.

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