Iron Age dolmens in TS under threat
Experts worry that destruction of burial sites are being bulldozed for agri needs
Structures of archaeological importance belonging to the Iron Age at Padurivaripalem near Chandupatla village in Nakrekal mandal in Nalgonda district in Telangana state are under serious threat. Archaeologists worry that the destruction of many burials built by huge boulders arranged in circular fashion near the local tank called Chinnacheruvu are being bulldozed out for want of land for agricultural operations.
Dr E. Sivanagi Reddy, archaeologist and CEO, Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati, came to the spot in Chandupatla village along with Tanguturi Saidulu, amateur archaeologist, with a view to sensitising villagers on the significance of preserving these Iron Age monuments.
After conducting a survey of these proto-historic structures, Dr Reddy said that out of 100 burials, only 10 are left here and there is no guarantee for their safety unless steps are taken to protect it.
Dr Reddy inspected a huge granite stone, known as a menhir, erected in the memory of a dead chieftain of the megalithic tribe near Netturu Sthambham Chelka area of Padurivarigudem.
He said the menhir, the only extant monument of its kind in Nakrekal, measures 11 feet above ground level, six feet in width and is half a foot in thickness and is buried at least six feet deep underground.
Such an invaluable monument cries for protection, he bemoaned. He said it is interesting to note that the menhir is locally known as Netturu Sthambham, meaning ‘pillar of blood’, as it turns into red colour during summer season due to mineral composition.
Dr Reddy also surveyed the surroundings of Kandimallavarigudem, a hamlet, 2 km from Chandupatla, where an inscription dated to November 27, 1289 AD, is located. He observed the near extinct burials of 10 Iron Age, built by boulders encircling a cist chamber arranged with huge slabs at the centre in the periphery of an irrigation tank.
He found a huge quantity of pot shreds of megalithic period comprising red ware, black ware and black and red ware (typical pottery of Iron Age) and bones scattered around the damaged burials by bulldozers by miscreants due to lack of historical awareness.
Dr Reddy, as part of an awareness campaign, ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’, launched by the CCVA, sensitised local communities in Padurivarigudem and Kandimallavarigudem on the historical significance of Iron Age monuments and the need to preserve them for future generations.
Keeping the archaeological potential of these monuments, he made an appeal to the Department of Heritage, Telangana, to declare the site and Menhir, protected under the provisions of the Archaeological remains and Historical monuments of Telangana Act.