Page 36 - SST Class 06

India, some megalithic sites have been discov- beyond pottery. This suggested that people
ered in the north-east and a Mehrgarh, in attached gave importance to their social
Kashmir. Megaliths have also been discovered in status.
Bihar, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, down g Sumerian influences prevailed in south
to Chennai and Mysore. The megaliths are of Indian, which also prospered during this
different types. For example, the many stone period (about 2,800 years ago).
boulders on a single grave have been placed in a
g Megalithic tools of both the Stone Age and
circle; others have only one large stone standing
of the later stages have been found. These
on the ground. At Kunnatur, near Chennai, a
point to the economic differences among the
heap of stones were placed together as memori-
people. They were rich and poor, some were
als called cairn circle. These types of megaliths
chiefs and some were followers.
are characteristic of many sites.
g The occurrence of horse bones shows that
Common Features
horse had been in use, for long distance
The megaliths in India have many common travel.
features. They are spread over the whole of south
WERE SOME BURIAL SPOTS MEANT
India Deccan; at all places the dead were buried
FOR CERTAIN FAMILIES?
with their belongings, like black and red ware
Some megalithic contained more than one
(pottery), other utensils, weapons, jewelry,
skeleton. These are said to belong to the same
ornaments of stone and gold and tools; they also
family but the persons might have died during
contain skeletons of domesticated animals,
different periods. They were buried in the same
specially, the horse. The north Indian megaliths
grave. This suggests that members of the family
do not contain iron tools, whereas these tools
were buried in the same grave, perhaps placed in
have been found in the graves of south India.
the grave through potholes. This also suggests
Archaeologists believe that the iron tools may not
that the Sumerians influence prevailed. The
have survived this long period in the humid
Sumerians, especially, placed huge stone boul-
climate of north India, whereas, they did in the
ders on the surface as signpost, for easy identifi-
dry climate of south India.
cation of the family grave.
Finding Out About Social Differences
A SPECIAL BURIAL AT INAMGAON
On the basis of the finds in the graves, the
At Inamgaon, a burial site has been discovered,
archaeologists draw some important conclusions :
in the family courtyard. The site (Inamgaon), had
g Objects found with a skeleton probably
been occupied between 3,600 and 2,700 years
belonged to the dead person. Sometimes,
ago. It is a site on the river Ghod, a tributory of
more objects were found in one grave than
the Bhima. Here, the dead man had been buried
in other.
in a four legged clay jar, in the courtyard of 5
g They resisted some social differences among roomed house. Archaelogical excavations have
people, as some skeletons were buried with brought to light, a wealth of information at this
gold beads. For example, at Brahmagiri, a site. In the courtyard, was also found a granary,
grave contained 33 gold beads, 2 stone where food grains had been stored besides a
beads, 4 copper bangles, and 1 conch shell. dead body, placed in a crosslegged position.
Many other graves did not have much,

Social Science-6 36