The Hindu : Karnataka News : Megalithic monuments found in Kodagu village

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Saturday, Feb 16, 2008
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Megalithic monuments found in Kodagu village

Jeevan Chinnappa

They probably date back to 300 BC, says ASI official

Interesting find: Stone structures resembling tombs that have been found in Bavali village in Kodagu district

BAVALI (KODAGU DISTRICT): Stone structures resembling tombs, believed to belong to the megalithic period, have been found in a remote village that borders Madikeri and Virajpet taluks in Kodagu district.

The tomb-like structure lies close to the Puttumadu Aiyappa and Chamundi temples in the village. M.A. Appaiah, a retired Superintendent of Police, who lives close by communicated this to the officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently.

N.C. Prakash, Assistant Superintendent Archaeologist, ASI, visited the spot on Tuesday to survey the structures. The find of a stone ‘hand axe’ (celt) was suggestive of human habitations in the vicinity, or it could suggest the migration of a group of people from one place to another, Mr. Prakash said.

There are many more such structures in and around the temple and private properties in the area.

“They are definitely megalithic structures, probably dating back to 300 BC,” Mr. Prakash told The Hindu. He said the hand-axe belonged to the Neolithic age dating back to 1800 BC.

There were different types of megalithic monuments, but the ones found here could be “cist burials,” Mr. Prakash said.

The discovery of huge flat stones on the ground in the plantations belonging to one M.B. Ponnappa suggests they were “portholes” Mr. Prakash said.

The top of the stone has a niche carved into it, possibly to offer oblations to the dead after burial. One such flat stone was found near the cowshed of Deranda Erappa a plantation owner.

“We found it while digging to build our cow shed some 25 years ago,” Mr. Erappa said.

Mr. Prakash said that he would further investigate the site after informing his seniors in the archaeology department.

Excavations in the nearby hills and surrounding villages could uncover more. His report would be forwarded to the ASI office in New Delhi. He planned to visit the sites again next month.

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