A note on MEGALITHS and MEGALITHIC CULTURE of south India by ramchandra rao

A large number of puzzling megalithic monuments are found all over south India: where did these people come from...are they wandering Celts..or Atlanteans fleeing from the destruction? Scythians from central asia, or very much a local group?

Prehistoric Megaliths or large stone constructions dating from before written history are found in huge numbers in South India. The monuments are usually found in granitic areas.

We still do not know exactly who the megalithic people were, whether they represent an immigrant group, or a local development. Since similar monuments are found in many places around the world, right from Ireland, malta, west asia, baluchistan to south east asia it is possible they represent a single group which spread all over the world. Among the possible groups are The Celts originating from central asia, who later became great seafarers: some group from West Asia like the ancient Elamites of mesopotamia: the Central Asian "Scythians", who roamed all over the world : a group of early Aryan tribes: and more fanciful, the Atlanteans washed off far and wide.The facts are known from archeology : the detailed explanations are yet to come.

Structure:Most of the megaliths found appear to be graves or similar constructions. Very common are rectangular chambers made of large stone slabs. For instance near Hyderabad city the slabs are about 2 metres by one metre, about 6 cm thick.

A box like structure is formed with the slabs resting on each other without any mortar. Sometimes there is an opening cut into one of the sides. Similar megaliths are found all the way from india, malta to Ireland but the usual dating of the indian megaliths is much more recent than the ones of britain/malta.

Pottery:Invariably large well made, well fired wheel turned pottery is found. Usually it is black and red. Some pots still retain a shiny polish. In some areas notably Tamilnadu are urn fields, where large numbers of funeral urns filled with ashes and charred bones are seen. Sometimes terracotta sarcophagus also are found. One was of the size of a modern bathroom tub. It had a large lid and was decorated with a terracotta ram's head. Maybe some important person was buried in it.

Metals:In all the south indian megaliths iron tools are found. It was an iron age culture. In sandstone area to the north copper tools were found, and they appear older. The iron tools are well made, massive, usually plough type and long crowbar -- celts or javelins. While the " javelins" might have been used for hunting, the local people even today use long steel rods for excavating soil and breaking granite boulders.

Axes, arrowheads and large flat swords are seen. Horse stirrups, ladles, vessels(?), also are commonly found. In some areas bells are common, like the ones tied to necks of cows. In southern areas emblems of roosters ( the cockerel, or male 'jungle hen', gallus are reported.--- This has interesting implications.

EconomyIt seems to be based on agriculture, with efficient -- in fact expert use of water and irrigation. Rice seems to be introduced by the megalithic people into s. India. Various other grains also are traced. Of particular significance is the making of granite stone dams across small seasonal rivulets. Becasue of the impervious dense and hard granitic bedrock, these dams form little lakes after the rains and keep the land moist for a long time until the height of the following summer. Two crops can be raised in otherwise arid areas. ( one of the few examples of beneficial meddling by our species).

Ethnic aspectsMost of the opinions about the megalithic peoples are unfortunately based on pet notions , imaginary scenarios and the like. Today's politics too colour the opinions. But based on the meager facts everyone is welcome to speculate, providing it is clearly understood to be speculation.