The Hindu du 29 novembre dernier signale la découverte de centaines de mégalithes préhistoriques jusque là inconnus dans la forêt de Tavdai, dans le district de Warangal, état du Télangana, dans le centre-ouest de l’Inde. Ce sont des amateurs d’archéologie, et non des professionnels, qui sont à l’origine de ces trouvailles. Les inventeurs pressent d’ailleurs les services officiels d’en entreprendre l’étude.

On trouvera ci-dessous le texte de l’article de The Hindu :

«  An enthusiast of history, Reddy Ratnakar Reddy and his associates explored hundreds of megalithic tombs in the deep forest of Tadvai mandal in the district that provides an opportunity to learn more about the pre-historic man.

Mr. Reddy says the megalithic burial site is located at Damaravai village, which is 15 kilometres from Tadvai mandal headquarters. The tombs called dolmens, a single chamber megalithic, consist of two or more structures supporting a huge horizontal capstone on the hillock, ‘Suragundaiah Gutta’.

The local residents worship this huge stone idol, which they call Lord Ganesha, on Nagapanchmi day.

Mr. Reddy led a group of students – P. Aravind, Mahesh, Hiralal and others - recently to this site. “The pre-historic man lived here 10,000 years ago as this is rich source of water of Godavari valley,” he explains.

There are three types of dolmens, one built on ground, second built on stone formations, and third built of circular formation of stones. The megalithic tombs having cists (megalithic coffin made in stone) are of 15 feet size in width where stones with two to three feet thickness are used.

According to Mr. Reddy, interestingly, a few tombs have cross shape carved on them at the site. Some time ago, a pre-historic burial site unearthed in Khammam Degree College too had cross symbols carved on it.

“The megalithic burial sites stand as a testimony to survival of pre-historic man here. But they are seriously undermined both by the officials and the locals. Radio carbon dating of the remnants will help ascertain the era to which they belong,” says Mr. Reddy.

Mr. Reddy urged the archaeological department to take up a study of the megalithic burialsite and try to restore them. The site could be developed into a tourist spot as it is situated close to Medaram and Bagotha waterfall on Warangal-Khammam border. Since the location is deep inside the forests, they are not easily accessible. Similar megalithic burialsites were also spotted on hillocks in reserve forests at Kamaram of Tadvai mandal, Rajupet and Dudinepally of Mangapet mandal in Warangal district ».

A pre-historic tomb in Tadvai mandal of Warangal district.– PHOTO: M. MURALI