Telangana Iron Age memorial

A menhir was spotted on the roadside at Ellarigudem, a hamlet in Mahaboobabad district of Telangana.

About the discovery

• The Archaeologist Sivanagireddy noticed this menhir during his survey of archaeological and heritage remains under the ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’ program. According to him, the menhir belongs to the Iron Age or Megalithic period (3,500 years old). The menhir was erected in memory of a dead person.
• The discovered menhir measures six feet in height and three feet in diameter and was buried under three feet during the road formation. The peculiarity of menhir lies in its white color.
• According to the former director of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), K. Mahendarreddy the Iron Age menhir belongs to the leucogranite stone category (comprises negligible mafic minerals) and holds a lot of importance in terms of geology.
• Archaeologist Sivanagireddy sensitized the locals to preserve the menhir for posterity.

About menhirs

A menhir is a large man-made upright stone. Menhirs are widely distributed across Europe, Africa, and Asia. In India, many menhirs are discovered by researchers in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. There are several references to menhirs in ancient Tamil Sangam literature. Menhirs are referred to as nadukal. There is a step-by-step procedure mentioned in Sangam texts for laying a nadukal in honor of a fallen hero.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2022

Category: Art & Culture Current Affairs