Iron Age graves discovered in Shidlaghatta
This is the first time such a significant Stone Age settlement has come to light in the taluk, offering fresh insights into the region's forgotten past. The graves, also known as kalgoris or kalmane, are megalithic burial structures made from rough rocks and slabs, each measuring between 1.5 and 2 meters in size.Inscription expert K. Dhanapal, who is carrying out a village-wise survey under the Archaeology Department, along with Karnataka Janapada Parishad president A.M. Thyagaraj, discovered these burial sites during their recent exploration.
'These graves belong to the Iron Age megalithic culture, which flourished around 300 BC,' said Dr. Shivatarak, a scholar who has studied similar sites. 'These structures give us clues about how the people of that time lived. When they died due to diseases or other reasons, they were buried together, often near water sources.'
Karnataka is rich in such megalithic sites, with over 1,440 large rock burial locations identified across the state. The site at Hirebenkal in Koppal district holds the largest number of rock tombs and has even been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Similar large burial sites have been found in Arabi Kothanur and Koira villages in Kolar.
The discovery in Shidlaghatta is expected to draw more research and may put the region on the map for archaeological studies of ancient human settlements in southern India.
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The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Unearthing lost timelines: Marungur Chapter
From potsherds to iron tools, the habitation mound and burial site add vital data to the archaeological profile of ancient Tamil Nadu's Naduvil Mandalam. N. Sai Charan digs deep into the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology's recently completed excavation Nestled in a belt of lush green cashew groves at Panruti taluk in Cuddalore district, Marungur, an otherwise quiet village, has recently stepped into archaeological spotlight. A short 2-km detour from the Chennai-Kumbakonam Highway near Kollukkaran village leads to this site, where the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) had recently completed excavation, bringing to light evidence of a long-forgotten past, and further proof of the rich heritage of Tamil Nadu. The region was part of the ancient Naduvil Mandalam or Naduvil Nadu (Central Territorial Division), flanked by the Thenpennai to the north and the Vada Vellar river to the south. Marungur was among eight locations where the TNSDA took up excavations in 2024-25. While the exact period is yet to be confirmed through chemical dating, preliminary findings from Marungur pointed to a well-established settlement, likely inhabited by communities during the transition phase from the later part of the Iron Age to the Early Historic Period, said R. Sivanantham, Director of Marungur excavation, and Joint Director of the TNSDA. He was assisted by archaeologists K. Bakialakshmi and S. Subhalakshmi, as well as research scholars. The exploration by the TNSDA, using remote-sensing techniques such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mapping and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to assess various attributes of the site, revealed that the habitation mound and burial site were positioned at an elevation of 100 metres above mean sea level. Subsequently, a formal excavation was launched to conduct methodical unearthing and analysis of material culture. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on June 18, 2024, launched the archaeological excavation at Marungur from the State Secretariat, along with excavations at Keeladi and its cluster (Kondagai) in Sivaganga district; Vembakottai in Virudhunagar; Kilnamandi in Tiruvannamalai; Porpanaikottai in Pudukkottai; Tirumalapuram in Tenkasi; Sennanur in Krishnagiri; and Kongalnagaram in Tiruppur. Explorations at Marungur The significance of Marungur came to light more than a decade ago. A report published in The Hindu on March 5, 2010, noted that three potsherds with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions were discovered at an urn burial site in Marungur. J.R. Sivaramakrishnan, a history lecturer at Annamalai University, had first noticed and collected the potsherds when an earthmover dug up the soil for strengthening the Vadalur-Panruti Road at Marungur. 'This is the first time such inscribed pots with Tamil Brahmi letters, usually placed as grave goods in urn burials, have been recovered from any archaeological site in Tamil Nadu. This opens a new chapter in archaeological research in the State,' the report said, quoting three experts, including renowned archaeologist K. Rajan. According to official sources in the TNSDA, one was inscribed with 'a-ti-y(a)-ka-n', and the others with 'a-ma-ṉ' and 'a-ta'. These inscribed potsherds could be dated back to the second or third century BCE, on paleographic grounds. Further explorations revealed a variety of artefacts on the surface of the habitation mound, located adjacent to a pond approximately 600 metres southwest of the burial site. Among the finds were light grey rouletted ware potsherds, black-and-red ware potsherds, microlithic tools, and a crescent-shaped iron chisel. On the southern flank of the habitation mound, remnants of a brick measuring 7×21×42 cm, flat terracotta stones of various sizes believed to have been used to play hopscotch, and beads of various colours – green, purple, yellow, black, and white – were found. Other artefacts included black-and-red ware pottery, terracotta pipes, an urn, circular stands, a lid made of black polished ware, and iron implements. Excavation at habitation mound On the eastern side of the tank at Marungur, a total of eight trenches, each varying in depth based on stratigraphic markers, were excavated at the habitation mound, which is situated in a zone predominantly composed of laterite soil. Decades ago, during the creation of the nearby pond, large volumes of silt must have been dumped over the mound. This anthropogenic activity resulted in the accumulation of nearly 2 metres of overlying silt, which was encountered during trenching, Mr. Sivanantham said. A significant discovery from one of the trenches was the unearthing of two large terracotta storage containers, each measuring approximately 1.25 metres, at a depth of 4.4 metres. In one of these containers, six bone points with sharp edges were found at the bottom. A few more bone points were also unearthed during the excavation. The exposed soil in and around the containers was clear evidence of firing activities. From the same stratigraphic layer, charcoal samples were retrieved, offering an opportunity for radiocarbon dating and further contextual analysis, he said. Two inner cores of conch shells, one of which measured 7 cm in length, were unearthed at a depth of 3.6 metres. A 13-cm-long iron knife, broken into three pieces, weighing 22.97 grams and measuring 2.8 mm in thickness, was also recovered from a depth of 2.57 metres. Various potsherds, including black-and-red ware, red ware, red-slipped ware, coarse red ware, rouletted ware with intricate designs, grey-rouletted ware, brown-slipped ware, and perforated ware, were found during the excavation, indicating remarkable diversity in ceramic usage. They also include 12 graffiti-bearing potsherds, with some of the graffiti resembling Indus signs. Several burnishing tools, used to polish the surface of pottery and terracotta wheels, were also found. The excavation yielded a rich collection of 95 antiquities, including a polished stone axe, carnelian, agate, quartz, glass and terracotta beads, copper bangle fragments, an iron knife, and terracotta objects. Antimony rods were unearthed, their blunt edges indicating that they were used for ornamental purposes. A medieval copper coin from the period of Raja Raja Chola I was also unearthed from the top layers. 'The mother trench excavated on the southwestern part of the habitation mound was nearly six metres deep. Beyond a depth of six metres, traces of natural soil were observed, indicating the absence of any further anthropogenic activity,' said Mr. Sivanantham, adding that Marungur was one of the few places in Tamil Nadu where both the habitation mound and its associated burial site were found. Excavation at burial site At the burial site located in a cashew grove, the archaeologists dug two trenches. During the course of excavation, two laterite stone circles were identified, confirming the presence of megalithic burials. In total, 10 urns were unearthed from these two trenches. The first megalithic structure revealed a laterite stone circle with a diameter of eight metres. The surface of the circle was covered with small laterite stones, which, upon removal, revealed two concentric stone circles – the inner circle composed of medium-sized laterite stones and the outer structure of larger stones. The stone circle was divided into four quadrants for methodical excavation. Initial layers yielded hard laterite stone. At the centre, a large capstone was found, placed to protect the burial urn beneath. The urn itself was placed within a laterite bedrock cavity. This megalith yielded two urns, Mr. Sivanantham said. In the second megalithic burial area, beneath the laterite layers, a fine red soil stratum was encountered, from which eight urns made of red ware were exposed at varying levels and in different sizes. Iron swords were found outside two of the urns, while other iron objects were recovered from inside the urns. One urn yielded red jasper beads, he said. In both the trenches, offering pots around the urns were recovered. These included black-and-red ware, red-slipped ware, black-slipped ware, and plain red ware pots. Proposed scientific analysis The samples collected from the habitation mound and the burial site will be subjected to a range of scientific analyses aimed at establishing the chronology of site formation, dating the artefacts and antiquities, and reconstructing the lifestyle and food habits of the communities that once inhabited Marungur, Mr. Sivanantham said. The charcoal samples will be sent to the Beta Analytic laboratory in Florida, U.S., for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry analysis for dating, while the pollen samples collected will be sent to French Institute of Pondicherry. Further, archaeo-botanical investigations, phytolith and petrology analyses, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence and Thermoluminescence dating will be employed to determine the exposure of sediments and ceramics to heat or light. The continuous cultural development in this region – from the Iron Age to the Early Historic Period – will be established through chronological and scientific analyses based on the unearthed artefacts, Mr. Sivanantham added. The University of Madras had already conducted excavations near Marungur, at Karaikadu and Kudikadu. This site also holds significance as it is located close to the ancient port cities of Arikamedu in the Union Territory of Puducherry and Poompuhar in Mayiladuthurai district. The TNSDA has also mooted preliminary surveys at Manikkollai, nearly 30 km from Marungur, for conducting excavations during 2025-26.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
12,000 years of art? Ancient Mongolian elk carvings morph into mysterious wolf symbols
The Altai Mountains in Mongolia have ancient rock carvings that tell a story that goes back 12,000 years. This started out as realistic pictures of elk and has turned into abstract, wolf-like symbols. Elk images in 12,000 years of Altai rock art in western Mongolia have undergone an incredible transformation, according to a recent study by Dr. Esther Jacobson-Tepfer published in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Design Thinking Healthcare Technology PGDM Leadership Product Management Data Analytics Data Science Degree Management Operations Management Project Management healthcare Digital Marketing Artificial Intelligence CXO others MBA MCA Data Science Finance Others Public Policy Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 25 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK PCP DTIM Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks IIM Indore CERT-IIMI DTAI Async India Starts on undefined Get Details How did elk carvings begin and how realistic were they? The new study of rock art in western Mongolia shows that elk images have changed over the past 12,000 years, going from realistic carvings to abstract, symbolic figures that look like wolves. Live Events This change in art style shows how the climate, mobility, and cultural identity in the Altai region have changed a lot over the years. Over the course of thousands of years, both people and animals evolved at the same time. ALSO READ: Astronomer CEO scandal fallout hits Dublin man with same name - Wife demands flowers after husband mistaken for Andy Byron From the Late Paleolithic (around 12,000 BP) to the Bronze Age and into the Early Iron Age, the Altai region, which is where Mongolia, Russia, China, and Kazakhstan converge, has one of the longest continuous rock art traditions in the world. Elk (Cervus elaphus sibiricus) carvings were unique among prehistoric carvings, as per a report by Archaeology Mag. Elk were depicted in their natural settings in the earliest paintings, occasionally alongside their young or alongside other extant creatures like woolly rhinos and mammoths. A profound observational understanding of the natural world was demonstrated by these early representations, which were carved in profile with proportional realism and vestigial legs. When did elk art become abstract and why? Over time, particularly during the Bronze Age, they underwent significant evolution. Elk grew more active and were incorporated into more and more human activity contexts, like hunting. The later Bronze Age saw the transition from realism to abstraction, with the elongated elk, exaggerated antlers, and distorted facial details into shapes resembling snouts or beaks. Over time, elk lost much of their resemblance to the actual animal and instead became a symbol, perhaps of spirituality, clan identity, or status. It would be impossible for painted images to survive outdoors in the Altai Mountains due to the climate and the significant amount of time that has passed since the Bronze and Early Iron Ages. The only known surviving painted elk image is located in Khoit Tsenkir cave in Khovd Aimag. What does this change say about ancient Mongolian life? Social and environmental change seem to be closely linked to this symbolic development. Forests, which were desirable habitats for elk, receded as the Eurasian steppe cooled and dried during the Holocene. As elk moved west, the changing terrain led to a rise in the number of people practicing pastoralism. As carvings emerge at higher elevations over time, rock art itself bears witness to this change. Dr. Jacobson-Tepfer's extensive fieldwork experience in the area highlights the impact of climate and movement on everyday life and art. She discovered a huge glacial boulder that overlooked a wide valley floor in 1995 while surveying Tsagaan Salaa IV. Among hundreds of them, one distorted, unearthly image of an elk was carved on its surface. She described the boulder as more than just an artifact; it was a symbol of changing cultural identity, writing, "It seemed to reflect a complex interweaving of deep geological time, iconography, and its social implications." Eventually, horseback riding altered how people interacted with the outside world. Symbolizing new social hierarchies and mobility, art featured stylized animals on personal items. Once a living component of the natural world, the elk has evolved into a symbolic animal. It vanished entirely from the tradition of art by the time of the Turks. FAQs Why did ancient elk carvings change so dramatically over time? The shift reflects environmental change, increased pastoralism, and a changing cultural identity. What do the abstract elk images depict? More likely to be symbols of status, clan identity, or spiritual belief than actual animals. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Evidence of neolithic grooves discovered at ‘Kollan Paarai' near Vellakoil
A new evidence of neolithic grooves has been discovered at 'Kollan Paarai' in Nagamanaickenpatti village, Vellakoil taluk, Tiruppur district, by a team from Yaakkai Heritage Trust. The site reveals nine distinct grinding grooves carved into granite rock, and microlithic stone tools on the surface that depict Iron Age cultural traces including clusters of iron ore slag, according to the team of archaeologists of the Coimbatore-based Trust. The surrounding landscape of Vellakoil retains the traditional character of a grazing region (Mullai thinai in Tamil classical geography), with its open pasturelands and indigenous breeds like Kangeyam cattle continuing a longstanding pastoral heritage, the study states. The study was carried out by Trust members Kumaravel Ramasamy, Sudhakar Nalliyappan, and Arunraja Mohan, based on initial field-level information provided by Arun Kumar. The discovery of these neolithic-era grooves supports this continuity, indicating ancient tool-sharpening and production activities tied to herding communities, the study states. The archaeologists note that such grooves are typical markers of neolithic culture, where stone implements were ground or shaped for use. In Tamil Nadu, these features have been identified at select sites in both northern and southern districts. This latest find follows previous documentation by the Yaakkai team at Thathanur in Tiruppur, as well as known sites in Naduvacheri and Kethaiarumbu, all within the Kongu region, highlighting the wider prehistoric settlement network, it states. 'Typically, such archaeological sites are located on sturdy granite outcrops close to perennial water sources such as springs or small rock pools. The granite at 'Kollan Paarai' is like the Eastern Ghats' rocks, with the grooves cut into its hard surface,' the study describes. Measurements show variations in groove size, with the largest recorded at approximately 53 cm in length, 18 cm in width, and 3.7 cm in depth, while smaller ones measure around 20 cm, 20 cm 0.5 cm respectively. Nearby, the natural rock pool known locally as 'Kollan Paaḻi' measures roughly 680 cm in length, 220 cm in width, and 240 cm in depth. Villagers confirmed that it remains filled even during harsh summers. They consider the water sacred, and use it for ritual purposes. Surface surveys in the adjacent area called 'Kollan Kadu' also yielded microlithic blade tools made of quartz, and numerous iron slag pieces, some measuring up to 25 cm long, 15 cm wide, and 10 cm high. These finds further support the site's importance as an integrated prehistoric landscape where multiple craft and subsistence activities occurred. 'Kollan Paarai' itself continues to be a living heritage site. Local traditions identify the rock grooves as symbolic footprints of Lord Murugan of Sivanmalai, and pilgrims perform rituals at the site during their journey to Sivanmalai, according to the team. Additionally, new temples for Vinayaka and Kanniatha have been constructed nearby, while water from 'Kollan Paaḻi' is considered holy for ceremonies.
