India’s Stonehenge
Context:
Stonehenge, one of the world’s most renowned prehistoric monuments, continues to attract global attention, with over 1.3 million visitors in 2023.
Stone Age
The Stone Age is the prehistoric period during which early humans primarily used stone tools. It is broadly divided into three phases based on technological and cultural advancements:
- Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age): c. 2.5 million BCE – 10,000 BCE
- Early humans were hunter-gatherers, relying on hunting animals and foraging for food.
- Tools were crudely chipped stones used for cutting, scraping, and hunting.
- Early evidence of fire use and cave paintings (e.g., Bhimbetka caves in India).
- Homo habilis, Homo erectus, and early Homo sapiens lived during this period.
- Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age): c. 10,000 BCE – 8,000 BCE
- Transition phase between hunting-gathering and early domestication of plants & animals.
- Introduction of microlithic tools (small, sharp stone tools fixed onto wooden or bone handles).
- Humans began to form semi-nomadic settlements near water sources.
- Neolithic Age (New Stone Age): c. 8,000 BCE – 2,500 BCE
- Agriculture emerged, leading to permanent settlements.
- Domestication of cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs.
- Use of polished stone tools, pottery, and weaving.
- Early megalithic structures and burial practices began.
- The foundation for civilisations was laid.
The Stone Age gradually gave way to the Chalcolithic Age (Copper-Stone Age), marking the beginning of metal use and the rise of early civilisations.
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- However, megalithic structures are not exclusive to the UK.
- Dating back to the mid-third millennium BCE, these ancient stone monuments have been found across Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.
- Despite their significance, India’s megalithic sites remain largely overlooked by travelers, even though they share a rich and diverse history comparable to their Western counterparts.
Legacy of Indian Megaliths
- Origins and Discovery: The study of India’s megalithic culture began in the 19th century.
- J. Babington first documented megalithic burials in Kannur, Kerala (1823).
- Since then, over 3,000 megalithic sites have been identified across India.
- Geographical Distribution: Found across Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, and other regions. Highest concentration in Central and Peninsular India.
- Types of Megaliths:
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- Menhirs – Upright standing stones.
- Cairns – Stone circles.
- Dolmens – Tomb-like structures with stone slabs.
- Rock-Cut Chambers – Urns and sarcophagi.
- Anthropomorphic Monoliths – Carved human-like figures in South India.
Factors Influencing Megalithic Structures: Regional geology and available raw materials played a crucial role.
- Classification by U.S. Moorti (1994):
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- Sepulchral Megaliths – Used for burials, including:
- Burial pits and chambers.
- Legged and un-legged burials.
- Non-Sepulchral Megaliths – Commemorative or memorial in nature.
- Sepulchral Megaliths – Used for burials, including:
- Archaeological Research: Early studies were antiquarian in nature.
- Mortimer Wheeler’s 1948 excavation at Brahmagiri (Karnataka) shifted focus to:
- Cultural significance of megaliths.
- Chronological classification and their role in ancient societies.
- Mortimer Wheeler’s 1948 excavation at Brahmagiri (Karnataka) shifted focus to:
Unveiling the Megalithic People
- Megalithic Traditions and Society: Megalithic structures reflect the cultural and societal practices of their builders.
- Excavations at 100+ sites provide insights into architecture, burial customs, and settlements.
- Subsistence Economy: Communities relied on pastoralism, with supplementary hunting and fishing. Domesticated animals found at sites include: cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses.
- Wild animal remains suggest a mixed subsistence strategy. Archaeobotanical evidence reveals cultivation of: Rice, barley, millet, lentils, and pulses.
- Metallurgical Skills: Discovery of copper, bronze, and iron tools & weapons suggests advanced metalworking techniques. Southern Indian megaliths are closely linked to the Iron Age.
- Revisiting Chronology: Traditional timeline places South Indian Iron Age at c. 1200 BCE–500 BCE. New radiocarbon dating challenges this, suggesting:
- Megalith-building may have begun in the Neolithic (c. 2500 BCE).
- Brahmagiri samples date back to 2100 BCE, hinting at an earlier Iron Age in South India.
While millions flock to Stonehenge each year, sites like Hire Benakal in Karnataka, home to over 400 megalithic structures, remain relatively unknown. India’s megalithic heritage is a testament to its ancient past, one that deserves greater recognition and exploration. In a world increasingly digitised, these silent stone sentinels remind us of a time when memory was etched not in the cloud but in enduring rock.
