Menhirs

Menhirs

Why in the News?

The Mudumal megalithic menhirs in Telangana’s Narayanpet district have been included in UNESCO’s tentative list for World Heritage Sites in 2025.

What are Menhirs?
A megalith is a large stone used in prehistoric structures, typically serving as a burial site or a commemorative monument. Menhirs are large upright stones, often tapering at the top, erected by humans.

Mudumal Menhirs:

• The Mudumal menhirs are the oldest known menhirs in India, dating back 3,500 to 4,000 years before present (BP) and are located near the banks of the Krishna River.

• The site consists of well-preserved megalithic burial sites, with stones aligned to solar events like equinoxes and solstices.

• One of the stones features cup marks depicting Ursa Major (Saptarshi Mandal), the earliest known star representation in South Asia.

• Locally, the menhirs are worshipped as "Niluralla Thimmappa," with one stone being revered as Goddess Yellamma, preserving ancient traditions.

Comparison with Hero Stones:

Unlike hero stones (Veeragallu in Kannada, Natukal in Tamil), which honor warriors who died in battle, menhirs were erected for different commemorative purposes. Hero stones, found mainly in South India, were created between the 1st millennium BCE and the 18th century CE to celebrate heroic sacrifices.

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