INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056
A STUDY ON THE STRUCTURAL PATTERNS OF MEGALITHS IN DHARMAPURI AND KRISHNAGIRI DISTRICTS
G. Karthick 1, Dr.P.Venkateswaran 2 1 Ph.D Research Scholar, PG & Research Department of History, Govt Arts College For Men-Krishnagiri. 2Assistant Professor, PG & Research Department of History, Govt Arts College For Men- Krishnagiri.
Abstract— Some systematic studies on the structural Patterns of Megaliths in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri district reveal certain significant architectural features of the Megalithic monuments. The Megaliths in general may be grouped in to two types one the Primary structure and the other being the Multifaceted type. Each one of these types has certain peculiar architectural characters. Each has variants constituted with few additional features predominantly set-upped outwardly. Here I made an attempt to reveal the structural patterns of Megalithic monuments in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.
Keywords- Megaliths, Structural patterns, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri.
I. INTRODUCTION In Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri district, sites with Megalithic monuments occur both in Iron Age as well as in Early Historic context. With only three Megalithic burials were excavated each on at Mayiladumparai, Vadamalaikunda and Modur amongst more than 5000 monuments existed allover two districts. The number was almost near to nil in terms of excavation. A cist was excavated in Vadamalaikunda and in other two cases cairn circle was involved. With minimum data available from threes excavations it make difficult to differentiate these two categories of monuments, viz., Iron Age Megalithic monuments and Early Historic monuments and the structural characters of the monuments. Moreover Nearly 90% of the Iron Age sites continued in their occupation and got transformed into Early Historic. There is hardly any cultural gap between these two periods. The surface observations made through intensive explorations provided a good picture on the typology of these monuments but fail to reveal hidden nature. The accumulated knowledge obtained through said three excavations in these two districts and particularly from disturbed sites, helped to some extant to understand the subterranean nature of these monuments. The internal chronology of the Megaliths is a difficult problem though the radiocarbon dates are useful for determining the overall-chronological span of the megaliths; on radio carbon dates were available in these two districts. Summarizing the evidence from the research carried out so far, the Megaliths of the study region can be tentatively dated from the end of the second millennium BCE to the beginning of the Christian era.
II. MAJOR KINDS OF MEGALITHS Many kinds of burial structures of the Megalithic culture were identified in various explorations. Recent study taking consideration of all available structure revealed by excavations and disturbed structures found in explorations the structures were classified into two major groups with its sub divisions. They are: the Primary or Core or Simple structures and the Multifaceted structures. The multifaceted structures are outward set-ups encircling the simple structures. Generally the outward look of a burial drives it distinctive name.
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I.Primary or Core or Simple Burial Structures Barrow or Pit, Urn, Sarcophagus and cist constitutes the Primary or Core or Simple Burial structures. They are individual and exclusive in nature. From the findings the Primary or Core or Simple burial structures were buried with the body of the dead, bones, burial or memorial objects and other burial objects. The Primary /Core / simple structure usually found beneath the ground level. And they were non- visible commonly disturbed. Whereas the Multifaceted structures like Dolmen, Dolmenoid cist, Cairn circle, Cairn heap, Menhir, Anthromorphic have risen upon any one of the primary burial structures, visible above the ground level. Most of upper structures form the support and decorative architecture. Excluding the Anthropomorphic all other types are present in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. II.Multifaceted Burial structures Dolmen, Dolmenoid cist, Cairn circle, Cairn heap circle and Menhir have risen as a superstructure above the primary burial structures are classified as Multifacedted megalithic burials. In this type, the primary structure act as a central element beneath the ground where super structures have risen, thus forming a Multifaceted burial structure.
III. THE STRUCTURES OF PRIMARY BURIAL The structures of primary burials are the Barrow or Pit, Urn, Sarcophagus and Cist. As said earlier they are individual and exclusive in nature. They are found in various measurements the Urn and Sarcophagus were earthen wares; the cist was box like structure arranges by four either natural or dressed stone slabs. The Cist based on their shape they are three types such as slab cist and Dolmen cist. And third being the Dolmenoid Cist. The third one was named by B. Narasimaiah; because of its half buried and half exposed above ground level nature. The Cist structure was constructed by four orthostates or upright stone slab kept in clockwise or anti- clockwise i.e. ‘Svastika pattern’ direction on a floor slab and was enclosed by a cap stone. It is constructed ensuring each slab slightly projecting beyond the length of the other and thus affording a strong bond and also preventing collapse. Usually a porthole noticed at the center or at the top of the eastern orthostate. The ‘slab cist’ was nothing but the cist pattern described above. The slab cist usually refers cist built with dressed orthostates. So far five variants of Cist structure were noticed. They are: 1. Cist with passage’ 2. Transepted cist, 3. Cist with subsidiary cists, 4 Cist with Benches and and 5. Cist with chambers. However the last four structures were not exposed so far in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.
IV. CIST WITH PASSAGE One passage was constructed in front of the porthole of cist by placing three vertical slabs. Two slabs placed on either side of the porthole at right angle to the eastern orthostate and the third one against these two slabs. In most of the cases they were not raised from the bottom of the pit. The pit was closed by boulders or sand up to the bottom portion of the porthole and a base slab placed in the passage. Then the vertical passage slabs were placed as stated above.
V. THE TYPES OF MULTIFACETED STRUCTURES In the Multifaceted structures were made with a combination of primary structures and with additional structures and superstructures using boulder stone and slab stones; which gave them a multifaceted look or a complex structure. 1. Dolmen It was major type of Megalithic burial found in Krishnagiri. There are many variants are identified in Dolmen structure. Their structure varies place to place and with availability of raw materials. Simple Dolmens, Dolmen encircled by single or multiple slab circles, Dolmen with passage types are variants in the tract.
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2. Simple Dolmen Simple Dolmen type was made of four orthostates placed in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction to form a box-like structure similar to a Cist; but placed above the ground level; and arranged with or without a porthole on the east; and covered by a capstone. 3. Dolmen encircled by single or multiple stone or slab circles In the variant the whole of Dolmen structure is encircled by either by stone or by a rectangular slab circle. When the circle is made with stone it is called ‘Dolmen encircled by stone circle’; when the circle is made with slabs it is called slab circle. The number of circles may vary from one to three. When it is more than one circle the outer circle is small in height than the next inner circle. The whole structure looks like a fortification wall. The slab structure is set-up like a wall or stone railing either continuously or at regular intervals or four cardinal points. To avoid any inward or outward collapse of the vertical slabs or orthostates rectangular brick-shaped stone blocks were placed in number of courses in the gap between the slab circles and dolmen covering half the size of the dolmen. 4. Sub - Variant A sub variant in ‘Dolmen with slab circle’ type is found in Mallachandram and Maharajakadai in present Krishnagiri district. In this sub-variant had single or double slabs of the inner circle rose above the height of the dolmen. In each slab circle, slabs with rectangular or flat top and slab with semi-circular top slab always occupy the cardinal points. The slab standing against the eastern orthostate of the dolmen also had round portholes identical to the porthole of the dolmen. Generally this particular kind of dolmen may belong to some important person of the society. These Dolmen are of special types. Around these in specific intervals stone fence or stone wall shaped slab stones will be constructed in circles. They will be like prahara or pragaram in temples. Some stone cist have outer slab stones higher than the inner ones. To prevent these slab stones from falling little rectangle shaped slab stones were arranged on either sides up to half of the height of slab stones. When one such cist is seen as a whole it is look like a fort with a wall or a temple with a pragaram. 5. Dolmen with passage In this type, a passage, an additional architectural feature is noticed in front of the porthole, i.e., on the eastern side in simple dolmen. These passages were developed similar to that of a Cist type placed below the ground level. Generally the passage lies between the dolmen and the circle. 6. Dolmenoid Cist The Dolmenoid cist, the chamber is made with dressed slabs or unhewn stones which are partly buried and partly above ground capped by a single or multiple capstones. According to Dr. K. Rajan, Dolmenoid cist is nothing but another variant of dolmen only. Though he is not fully satisfied with this terminology, but using it provisionally till gets a suitable and acceptable terminology. Dr. K. Rajan had reported the following features of a Dolmenoid cist. 1.Shorter in height. Approximately. 1 meter or even than that. 2.Capstone placed either on a rouble or boulder instead of orthostates. Even if slabs are used, it consists of more than one small irregular slabs on each side. 3.Three sides are closed and the remaining facing side is kept wide open. 4.Devoid of any porthole. 5.Erected above the ground level. Many types of structural variants found in this structure. They may be grouped as 1. Simple Dolmenoid cist, 2. Dolmenoid Cist with Passage and 3. Dolmenoid cist with stone or slab circles. Variants of Simple Dolmenoid Cist The simple Dolmenoid cist has many sub-variants. They are a. Dolmenoid cist with multiple orthostates b. Dolmenoid cist with four orthostates placed contra- clockwise, with porth-hole in the east or west.
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c. Dolmenoid cist with four orthostates kept contra-clockwise with U-shaped porth-hole on the top corner of the eastern orthostate. d. Dolmenoid cist with four orthostates arranged contra- clockwise with slab- circles.
VI. DOLMENOID CIST WITH PASSAGE Dolmenoid cist with passage was constructed by fixing two stone slabs in front of the porthole. This entrance is called passage (Mutram). A cap stone was put over the two slabs. A Dolmenoid cist has an additional feature of stone or slab circle form this variant of Dolmenoid cist. when the stone / boulder is used for the circle then it is called ‘Dolmenoid cist with stone / boulder circle’, when circle is formed with slabs it is called ‘Dolmenoid cist with slab circle’. Cairn or Stone circles are made of round even shaped boulders in a particular structure. In this type the circles are devoid of any cairn packing. Most urns unearthed in this region were from stone circles only. In cairn circles, generally stone boulders were placed one after another without any gap to form a circle but in stone circles they were generally placed by giving much gap between two boulders to serve as a demarcation of the grave. Major types of Cairn circles are: a. Cairn circle entombing cist burial. b. Cairn circle entombing urn burials. c. Cairn circle with double circle entombing cist burial. d. Cairn circle entombing sarcophagus. e. Cairn circle entombing pit burial. f. Cairn circle with slab circle. g. Cairn circle with Menhir. h. Cairn circle with Anthropomorphic. Cairn Heap Circle Cairn heap circles are erroneously called as Cairn circles. But the structure varies at vast measure. Cairn Heap circles were constructed out of round boulders with heap of cairns at the centre. Their height above the ground depended upon the nature of the burial and land. If the land was more flexible either the cist or urn was placed 30 to 60 cm bellow the ground level and then pit was covered and entombed with cairns. Sometimes the cairn circles were encircled by a wall or slab or both. The wall is built of triangular stones placed side by side in three to seven courses. The base of the triangular stone or slab is slightly curved and this placed facing outside. The pointed portion of the slab placed facing inner side. Sometimes the wall’s inner face is found lined with rectangular stone of big gravels. In few cases, the inner face and outer face of the wall is built of rectangular stones. The gap between the inner and outer face of the wall is filled with small stones. Barrel type Cairn Heap The Barrel type Cairn heap may be grouped as a variant of Cairn heap circle. Two such type Megalithic monument is recently found in Bodamalai in Harur taluk. A barrel like Cairn heap structure is erected to 5- 7 feet height with cairn and rubbles of near to uniform size. Overall findings clearly disclose the Cairn Circle type Megalithic burials were found throw out the district irrespective of geographical character, plain or hilly region. Natural rough boulders of various sizes are used to construct these Cairn circle and its variants; near uniform size of boulder is used in developing a stone circle; as a packing substance various sizes is used; the use of slab circle a variant is unfound so far in the district. The scatted foothills in Palacode and Dharmapuri taluks have reported Menhir and dolmenoid cists. A special mention has to be made on Barrel type Cairn Heap a rare and only site reported in South India for the first time.
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Menhir with cairn circles Apart from usual types of Megalithic some unusual type are also found. a cairn circle with a standing monolithic slab at the periphery of the circle. The slabs are found either in single or double planted on any part of the circle. Porthole Porthole was noticed usually on the eastern slab. In the case of transepted cist it was found on the eastern slab and on the bifurcating or the transepting slabs. There was also some variant in it. If the cist was divided breadth wise the porthole was noticed on the eastern orthostate as well as on the other transepting slab. If the cist was divided lengthwise the porthole was found on the eastern orthostate against each chamber or against right side chamber and on the transepting slab. The porthole serves the purpose of connecting all the chambers. Occasionally, the porthole in the simple cist or the first porthole in the case of multiple portholed cist was covered with a slab on the outer side by rectangular slab. As noted earlier the porthole is found on the closing slab of the passage covered with a slab on the outer side. The transepted cist divided into breadth wise had only round portholes. The shape of the porthole is confirming to round, trapeze, arrow head shaped and flower pot or cruciform. The trapeze shaped porthole generally found in the central, southern and eastern part of the region. The unparalleled evidence is the arrow head shaped porthole found on the subsidiary cist. The flower pot or cruciform shaped portholes –porthole having a round centre with conical top and bottom- noticed in the some burials at Kodumanal seems to be an arrow head shaped porthole only. The intension, while scooping, is to make an arrow-head shaped porthole only but however they could not bring out the desired shape. Therefore in some of the cists it looks like a flower pot. The perfectly scooped arrow-head shaped porthole in Kodumanal clear the exact nature of the porthole. The usage of this type of porthole exclusively restricted to one type of cist burials i.e., transepted cist with two subsidiary cists. In this type too, they are found only on the front slab of the northern subsidiary cist facing south. Usually porthole is noticed on the eastern slab. In case of a circle having more than one cist as subsidiary cists, the main cist has the porthole on the east and subsidiary cists having the porthole facing the passage i.e., facing north or south direction. Capstone with cup marks not a variant but a capstone feature Cup marks are one of the interesting features found on capstone of a dolmen. This type is not a variant of Dolmen but a feature carved out on the capstone. This type of cup marks on the upper surface of capstone was reported at Vedarthattakkal, Annachandram, in present Krishnagiri district and at Karubayanahalli in present Dharmapuri district. The cup marks are found at a regular interval all over the upper surface of the capstone. The cup marks are shallow in nature having carved to a coconut shell deep. Raw materials The raw materials used for the Megaliths are locally available and easily transportable. This location of the graves clearly demonstrates that the raw materials were available within the distance of few kilometers. They used boulders for the circles for the circles and slabs for the orthostates chambers. The cists were made of both undressed and dressed slabs and capstones were generally undressed ones. Majority of the dolmens and the associated slab circles were built of dressed stones only. The Dolmen cist used big flat capstone rested on boulders or walls made of rubble.
VII. CONCLUSION This study on the structural Patterns of Megaliths in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri district reveal two major types of Megaliths. They are: the Primary or Core or Simple structures and the Multifaceted structures. Barrow or Pit, Urn, Sarcophagus and cist constitutes the Primary structures. The Cairn / stone Circle, Cairn heap circle, Dolmen, Dolmenoid cist and Menhire form the major multifaceted structures.
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Each one of these types has certain peculiar architectural characters. Each has many variants constituted by few additional features predominantly set-upped outwardly beneath the ground and superficially above the ground. Amongst them the Menhir type was rare kind. The same was may be attributed the Cairn heap circles. Generally Cairn heap circles type was erroneously called as either cairn circle or stone circle which has a distinguish character from a stone or cairn circle.
REFERENCES
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