Brahmagiri, Karnataka: Some Recent Finds and Observations

Brahmagiri, Karnataka: Some Recent Finds and Observations T.M. Keshava1, Sujana Stephen1 and Nihildas N.1 1. Archaeological Survey of India, Bangalore Circle, 5th Floor, F Wing, Kendriya Sadan, 17th Main Road, Koramangala, Bangalore – 560034, Karnataka, India (Email: [email protected]; [email protected]) Received: 25 July 2015; Accepted: 27 August 2015; Revised: 19 September 2015 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 3 (2015): 635‐647 Abstract: This article is the outcome of the explorations conducted in different locales of Brahmagiri. The settlement pattern of the site is examined on the basis of the distribution of cultural materials. An account of the present condition of the site and also the need for further intensive and extensive investigation is also noted. Keywords: Brahmagiri, Exploration, Documentation, Megalithic Burials, Cist, Survey, Pedi‐plain Introduction The site of Brahmagiri (14° 48ʹ N; 76° 49ʹ E) in Molakalmuru taluk, Chitradurga district, Karnataka is spread across the Pedi‐plains and undulating plain area on the foot of the Brahmagiri hill, a granite outcrop, rising from 600 feet above the surrounding plains. It is situated 99 Km north east of Chitradurga and 43 Km south west of Bellary (Fig. 1). Ashoka Siddhapura, Kaadsiddhapura, Roppa, Rampura and Devasamudra are some of the important nearby villages. The picturesque landscape of the region is characterized by rocky hills, which are separated from each other by large stretch of undulating Pedi‐plains. The region comes under the Eastern Ghats range with a marked interior belt running from the Biligirirangan ranges in the south to Molakalmuru in the north (Fig. 2). The region has one of the oldest rock formations in India that consists of crystalline schist’s, granitic gneiss, newer granites and intrusive basic dykes. The schist’s and their associated rocks constitute a portion of the Dharwar system and are designated as the Chitradurga and the Chiknayakanahalli schist belt. The important hills of the region are Jatangi hill, Brahmagiri, Nunkappanagudda and Jogappanagudda. The whole area of Chitradurga district lies in the Valley of Vedavati River. The Tungabadra River also flows for a few miles along the boundary of the district in the North West. The main river which flows through Molakalmuru Taluk is Janahalla or Chikka Hagari and it ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 3: 2015 Figure 1: Location Map of Brahmagiri Figure 2: General View of the Site Brahmagiri 636 Keshava et al. 2015: 635‐647 joins the Vedavati River at Molakalmuru. The region is dry and the climate is marked by hot summer months, low rainfall and a pleasant monsoon season with the average annual rainfall for the period 1996‐2005 is 670.0 mm (http://cgwb.gov.in/District_ Profile/Karnataka/Chitradurga‐Brochure.pdf). The plains are covered mainly with a dwarf species of mimosa locally called hote jail and trees such as Tamarindus indica (tamarind), Melia indica (neem), Cacia fistula, Acacia sundra, Albizzia amara etc. The plains are utilized for agriculture and in spite of low average rainfalls; the region produces very good crops such as groundnut, cotton, ragi and maize. At present the area experiences scarcity of water and drought conditions, but it has been told by the villagers that earlier the people had utilized rainwater by trapping them in natural tanks. One such natural pond is found on the foothills near the site and it is also possible that such tanks existed in the hill also. During rainy seasons many streams originate from the hill and they are channeled into the agricultural lands. The present village settlements are also located in the plains and the main inhabitants of the Brahmagiri region are Kurubas (Sathyan 1967: 6‐20). Brahmagiri has earned an important place in the archaeological map of India since 1892 when B Lewis Rice discovered three Asoka’s edicts in the locality and reported in Epigraphia Carnatica (Sathyan 1967: 69). Later, the site became a landmark in the history of South Indian archaeology through the excavations by Krishna (1942: 100‐109) and Wheeler (1947: 180‐310). A. Sundara classifies Brahmagiri region under the Peninsular Gneissic complex eco‐zone and the megalithic burials to the Saganakallu‐Hirebenkal Group of this zone (Sundara 1975:70). Brahmagiri and its neighborhood also yielded evidence of the rule of later dynasties like Satavahanas, Kadambas, Early Western Chalukyas and Pallavas, Rashrakutas, Later Chalukyas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagara dynasty (Sathyan 1967: 69 ‐ 80). Recent Explorations This article is the outcome of the explorations conducted in different locales of Brahmagiri, in the hillock, Pedi‐plains and plains. The observations on the distribution of cultural materials and the settlement pattern of the site are attempted in this article. An account of the present condition of the site as observed during the resurvey and documentation is also noted. Survey and Documentation Wheeler in his report identified the Megalithic burial complexes and named it as Area A, B and C (Wheeler 1947: 186, Plate LXXIII). Apart from this, he also records three Megalithic burial areas as unexplored. He mentions that the entire area had about 300 cist burials. During the present explorations attempt was made to relocate and document the megalithic burials, excavated areas and other features reported in Wheeler’s excavation report. The Megalithic burial area A is now under extensive cultivation and the only remnants of the existence of burials were some stone slabs and boulders scattered on the agricultural land. The Megalithic burial Area B 637 ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 3: 2015 consists of the plain agricultural land located on either side of the track leading to Roppa village. It also includes the protected area of (55 x 40 m) ASI, Bangalore Circle. The agricultural activities as well as the widening of the track in recent years has disturbed and buried majority of the burials in this area. On the surface of the track, the orthostats, cairn packing’s and dressed stone packing’s of some of the burials are visible (Fig.3). The Megalithic Area C now forms part of the Roppa village and no evidence of burials could be found except for a few stone blocks lying on the nearby agricultural fields. Further the area marked by Wheeler (Wheeler 1947: 186, Plate LXXIII) as unexplored close to Area B was explored and documented. This area is located 50 m north of Area B and named as Area D (70 x 30 m) in continuation to the markings made by Wheeler. Megalithic I and VII (Wheeler 1947: 189‐191), excavated by Wheeler was identified and it is located very close to the ASI’s protected area and falls within the prohibited area of the site. The other excavated burials are located in the nearby agricultural fields, but a proper identification of the same was not possible, due to heavy destruction and displacement caused to them by agricultural activities. Except making note of Geo‐coordinates, no detailed documentation was possible in Areas A and C due to the highly destructed nature of the burials by agricultural activities. A detailed documentation of the burials was carried out in Areas B and D. All these burial areas are located mainly on the plain area overlooking the Brahmagiri hill on its western side. They are probably part of a single complex now looking separated since most of the burials are either destroyed or buried under the surface soil mainly due to extensive agricultural activities. All these burial areas are inter‐visible and also own a striking view from the hilltop. The natural tank is also situated in close proximity to the west of the burial areas (Fig.4). It was noticed that most of the burials were disturbed. The capstones of all the burials were robbed by the local people for their constructions (Fig.5). The visibility of the burials above the surface varies and in some cases only a part of it is traceable above the surface, while in other cases the visibility of the burials above the surface is 10 to 70 cm. In few cases traces of dressed stone wall of the burial is also visible on the surface. In the complex, the burials lay scattered with no specific arrangement in its placement. The burials were constructed invariably on granite. Sundara (1975:162) observes that the architecture of the burial chambers of Brahmagiri show better stability and advanced stage of development. All the burials are east‐west oriented with a port hole on the eastern side. A majority of the burials noticed were cist burials with dressed stone walls or cairn packing or both placed around the chamber (Fig.6). Miniature burials are also found in the complex adjacent to the cist burials. This type of burials is named as auxiliary burials by Wheeler (Wheeler 1947: Plate LXXXV). Another type of burial observed is a cist burial with entrance, mainly found on the eastern side. In this 638 Keshava et al. 2015: 635‐647 Figure 3: Megalithic burials found on the road to Roppa village Figure 4: View of Area D from the Hilltop, Brahmagiri 639 ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 3: 2015 Figure 5: Partially Damaged burial at Area D, Brahmagiri Figure 6: Cist with dressed stone enclosure, Brahmagiri 640 Keshava et al. 2015: 635‐647 category on the eastern side and attached to the eastern orthostat, three or four slabs were placed in such a manner to form a miniature chamber, which acted as the entrance. Cist with slab circles and stone circles form another category of burials in the complex and the details of architecture pattern are almost similar to the single cist burials.

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