Megalithic culture

Megalithic culture in South India

1. MEGALITHIC CULTURE IN SOUTH INDIA a very large usually rough stone used in prehistoric cultures as a monument or building block

2. Megalithics This culture was one of the earliest iron-using archaeological settlements in South India. Megaliths were the burial monuments for important tribal figures. In these monuments we find different implements like stone and iron tools which were needed for daily existence. They were found around river valleys, important trade routes and strategic places. In the different districts of South India we have discovered megalithic monuments. The word megalith has stemmed from the merger of two Greek terms of "mega" meaning large and " lithic " signifying stone.

3. Many inscriptions of the Mauryan king Ashoka have been found in these regions where megalithic sites have been discovered. The people followed a primitive kind of agriculture. They were used to move from place to place. Primitive form of exchange existed between the different tribal groups. These settlements indicate the beginning of use of iron for the purpose of production. It is said that they belonged to the period around 5th century BC.

4. the megalithic tribes of India use various structures of stone as burials or memorials of the dead.  In the past megaliths were not only sepulchral/funerary structures but were also used both as memorials of the dead and to commemorate various events of the family and that of the community. Megaliths were found even to be used as boundary markers and also as astronomical structures.

5.  Prehistoric megaliths are a significant source of our ancient history and their preservation is imperative as these monuments are evidences that India was indeed a land of the tribes in hoary times.  Different types of clay utensils, pots, clay plates, cheppus ( cheppu means a small container), iron weapons like sword, knife, soolam (trident), nail, choonda (fishing hook) and kozhunaaku are the major megalithic remnants found in South India.

6. Some tools made of brass and bronze, stone beads in red, black and white colours are also among the remnants retrieved. They provide valuable insights for the commoners into the Iron Age.

7. Different Types A  DOLMEN   is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of two or more vertical megaliths supporting a large flat horizontal capstone or "table". In many instances, the covering has weathered away, leaving only the stone "skeleton" of the mound intact. A  MENHIR  is  standing stone ,  orthostat , or  lith  is a large man-made upright stone They can be found solely as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Menhirs' size can vary considerably, but they are generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top.

8. Kudakkallu , literally meaning umbrella rocks, is a collection of rocks shaped as overgrown mushrooms or stunted umbrellas. The rocks date back to 4000 years, and it is believed that each of these umbrella-shaped rocks were installed as a memoir over the grave of the wealthy who were buried here.

9. Thoppikallu , which is another type of burial site, similar to Kudakkallus . The only difference between these types of burial sites is that in the case of thoppikallu the umbrella-shaped ground is not placed on top but on the ground.

10. Nadukkalu is a monument type which describes rocks used to cover burial sites. Some of these rocks were inscribed with the names of the warriors that were buried underneath them. These burial sites are linked to some Hindu rituals and other ancient traditions like “offering” alcohol, bathing and offering bali to the Nadukkallu site.

11. DOLMEN

12. MENHIRS

13. HAT STONE

14. UMBRELLA STONE

15. Nadukkalu

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