Menhirs of Megalithic time found in Jangaon district

​Jangaon: Menhirs related to Megalithic time were found in Jangaon district ascertaining the presence of prehistoric humans here.

Menhirs also called ‘Standing stone or ‘Orthostat’ were found at Mysammagutta on the outskirts of Vadlakonda in Jangaon district. One of the Menhirs found at the village was as high as 4.5 metres with a circular opening at the top and it can be tallest Menhir to be found in State.

An archaeology enthusiast R Rathnakar Reddy who stumbled upon the stones said Menhirs were constructed during different periods across prehistoric time connected with larger part of megalithic culture that flourished across the globe.

Some of the stones are anthropomorphic figures which resembles human shape but in an indistinct manner. Many of the standing stones were carved only depicting human shape till shoulders with vague form of head, he told The Hans India on Friday.  

There are two Menhirs standing near Anam tank at Vadlakonda where several cairn circles, a spherical mound of stones covering cremations were found as a remembrance of the dead persons, Rathnakar explained.

In a Menhir at the tank, the opening at the top in the form an eye is of 25x16 centimetres and looks towards the sky while the other one depicts a human form looking sideways. There is a standing stone on the other side of the village and was destroyed by locals, he noted.

The local farmers are now trying to remove the Menhirs to plough the land. The archaeology department must take up a study of the site and relocate them. They can be placed at Chitakoduru reservoir area on the outskirts of Jangaon town so that they can be a tourist attraction, Rathnakar suggested. 

Preserving them is essential so that future generations learn about pre-historic life in the State, he added. He further informed that similar standing stones were found at Janampet in Warangal, at Gundala in Khammam district and at Vedayapalem in Nellore district. 

However, the Menhir found at tank Vadlakonds was the tallest and it needs to be ascertained by archaeology department, he added.