VaramalaExcavation

Abstract

archaeological excavations atVaramalakunta (N 12o 37.839’ E 078o 22.671’), Krishnagiri dist, Tamil Nadu during 2014-15 field season

Key takeaways
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  1. Excavations at Varamalakunta revealed two dolmenoid cists, Cist I and Cist II, in Tamil Nadu.
  2. Cist I measures 1.85 X 1.30 m and features a missing capstone and offering vessels.
  3. Cist II exhibits similar architecture to Cist I but lacks a capstone and one side stone slab.
  4. Artifacts include various pottery types, with Cist I showing more graffiti and bones than Cist II.
  5. The purpose of the text is to document archaeological findings from the 2014-15 field season.
Varamalakunta SCSVMV University Archaeological Excavations - 2014-15 Report on Archaeological Excavations conducted during 2014-15 field season Name & Locality of the sire – Varamalakunta (N 12o 37.839’ E 078o 22.671’), Krishnagiri dist, Tamil Nadu Nature of the site – Early Iron Age Megalithic Excavated period – April to May 2015 Archaeological excavations were conducted at Varamalakunta, Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu during 2015 field season under the direction of Prof. S. Rama Krishna Pisipaty, Department of Sanskrit & Indian Culture, along with P. Ramesh, Ph.D. Research Scholar and ICHR fellow. Early Iron Age settlements and socio-cultural activities of the period are retrieved and reported for the first time in the region. Hundreds of burial structures in both the Polylithic and the Monolithic categories were traced in the region. Structures constructed with mega-liths in the region are varied in shape and size. For, Dolmen, built of large stone slabs laid on edge and covered with earth and supported with smaller stones; Menhir, a large, single upright standing stone are common feature. The buried and semi-buried dolmens are categorized as cists and dolmenoid cists are arranged in circular layouts. There are clusters of semi-buried dolmens constructed in four sided chambers with or without capstones. A few dolmens, three sided chambers with capstones forming the roof have also been noticed in the region. Most of the dolmens with round portholes have appeared. Many of them have collapsed or disturbed. General view - Varamalakunta reserve forest area 1 Varamalakunta SCSVMV University Archaeological Excavations - 2014-15 Menhir – at Varamalakunta Two dolmenoid cists, Cist I and Cist II, were opened and excavated up to natural bed rock during the field season. These are rectangular shaped cists constructed on bed rock. Cist I – after surface cleaning 2 Varamalakunta SCSVMV University Archaeological Excavations - 2014-15 Cist I – general view Cist I - was constructed in semi-buried upon the bed rock (1.85 X 1.30 m). A huge rectangular stone slab placed on above the bed rock for placing offering vessels. The cist was built with four large stone slabs laid on edge surrounding the bottom stone slab to protect offering vessels in like swastic pattern. It may be to support stone slabs to each other. Around the structures, there is a pit filled with layers of earth and surface covered with carved stone pieces in medium size. The cist was covered with earth after arranging offering vessels. Capstone is missing but the broken stone slabs have been noticed in the surrounding area. The dolmen with round porthole (40 cm in diameter) has also appeared on the eastern slab stone. 3 Varamalakunta SCSVMV University Archaeological Excavations - 2014-15 Cist 1- offering vases & bones Offering vases are in three different fabrics – 1. Black and Red ware in fine fabric - bowls in different sizes (7), plats (thali) three in number with almost similar measurements, pots (2 in different sizes) and conical jar (1). 2. Black ware – lid (1) and two stands. 3. Red ware – big size pot (1) and small size pots (2). Cist I – offering vessels 4 Varamalakunta SCSVMV University Archaeological Excavations - 2014-15 Except bowls, all unearthed utilitarian were in broken condition. Graffiti marks were noticed on outer surface of the most of offering vessels. Grave good were furnished on the bed rock at the bottom of the cist along with bones (?) and covered with radish yellow soil. Cist I – conical jar on stand with lid 5 Varamalakunta SCSVMV University Archaeological Excavations - 2014-15 Cist I Pottery with Graffiti marks Cist I – pottery with graffiti 6 Varamalakunta SCSVMV University Archaeological Excavations - 2014-15 Cist I –with porthole Cist II - similar architecture and measurements have appeared in the case of Cist II also, but capstone and one side stone slab are missing. Similar offering vessels and arranging pattern have appeared with some typological variation in the vases. Small size bowls and long necked vase are appeared in the Cist II where as Black ware lid and conical shaped vase in Black and Red ware are found in the Cist I. However, there is no much technological variation in the grave furnishes. Fine variety of pots, may be deluxe ware, are found in both cases. Bones are less in number when compare to Cist I. Less graffiti marks have appeared on the pottery of Cist II. 7 Varamalakunta SCSVMV University Archaeological Excavations - 2014-15 Cist II – offering vases & bones (?) Offering vases from Cist II 8 Varamalakunta SCSVMV University Archaeological Excavations - 2014-15 Black and Red ware, Black ware and Red ware pots were found in different shapes and sizes, besides iron objects and bones (?). Bowls in different sizes, plats, conical jar, globular vases, etc. are prominent shapes in Black and Red ware where as lid and stand in Black ware. Most of the pots were grafted with various symbols. Dolaminid cist made of three sided chamber with capstones & Paintings on outer side at Varamalakunta Another interesting finding in the region is rock shelters and paintings. There are paintings of people dancing, hunting, and holding weapons and also geometric and mystic designs of deer, peacocks, antelopes, humped bulls, horses and cows. Some dolmen side’s stone slabs were also painted with white ocher. Dr. S.Rama Krishna Pisipaty Department of Sanskrit & Indian Culture SCSVMV University, Enathur, Kanchipuram – 631561. 9

FAQs

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What unique architectural features did Cist I have during excavation?add

Cist I featured a colossal rectangular stone slab and a unique swastic pattern of stone slabs, suggesting intricate architectural considerations during construction.

How did the excavation methodology influence findings at Varamalakunta?add

The excavation methodology involved thorough surface cleaning and excavation to bed rock, which revealed burial practices and grave goods from both cists.

What types of grave goods were found in Cist I and II?add

Cist I yielded conical vases and Black ware lids, while Cist II contained similar vessels with typological variations but fewer bone remains.

What variations were noted in the ceramics between Cist I and II?add

Ceramics in Cist I included Black ware lids, while Cist II featured long-necked vases and smaller bowls, indicating slight technological variations.

What does the presence of graffiti on offering vessels suggest?add

The prevalent graffiti on offering vessels in both cists indicates ritual significance or cultural identities associated with the burial practices.

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Geo-archaeologist

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