Menhir and Megalithic Burial Sites

The Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology has declared five ‘menhir’ (single stone) and megalithic burial sites at Kodumanal in Erode district as protected monuments.

12 Jun 2023

Context: 

The Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology has declared five ‘menhir’ (single stone) and megalithic burial sites at Kodumanal in Erode district as protected monuments.

Findings at Kodumanal site:

  • Potsherds containing names inscribed in Tamil-Brahmi script were found in a large number, apart from Roman silver coins, precious stones and quartz. 
  • These findings showed that an industrial and trade centre had existed here about 2,300 years ago.

About Menhir:

  • Menhirs are the megalithic pillars having small or gigantic height planted vertically in the ground.
  • They are commemorative pillars set up at or near a burial site. 
  • Menhirs are known by various names like Nilskal, Nintikal, Anekallu, Rakkasakal, Garbinikal and so on in South India.
  • They are mentioned in ancient Tamil literature as nadukal.

About Megaliths:

  • In prehistoric art, a megalith is a large, often undressed stone that has been used in the construction of various types of Neolithic, Chalcolithic or Bronze Age monuments, during the period 4500-1000 BCE. 
  • Also known as petroforms, these monuments can consist of just one stone (Menhir), most megalithic monuments consist of a number of stones, which are fitted together without the use of mortar or cement.
  • The megalithic monuments of peninsular India, believed to have been erected in the Iron Age (1500 BC – 200 AD).
  • Though megalithic sites are found all across India,  they are concentrated mostly in peninsular India. 

News Source: The Hindu

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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