HYDERABAD: In what was believed to be the largest assemblage of megalithic burials found till date, as recorded by a foreign researcher in 1918, in Janampet, the Archeological Survey of India’s Hyderabad circle is on a mission to trace them and date them officially through DNA verification. Taking up the first exploration of some areas of this known megalithic site of Janampet in Jayashanker Bhupalpally district, after formation of Telangana, officials at ASI-Hyderabad believe that further excavation of the site would give an insight into the rich variety of megalithic culture that exists in Telangana.
The initial exploration of the Janampet site which started on May 7 was completed on May 31. The ASI is waiting for more funds so that the excavation can be continued. The state department of archeology and museums has already excavated a number of identified megalithic sites across the State and recovered artefacts from that era.
According to ASI, this particular site was earlier excavated in 1918 and later in the 1940s, during the Nizam’s time. However, there have been no records except for a couple, a two-page report from the Nizam’s annual reports and another brief one, by a foreigner who excavated it in 1918. There is not just a large presence of megalithic culture, but also a variety said Milan Kumar Chauley, superintending archaeologist, ASI Hyderabad.
The excavation will not just help in comparing and contrasting but also learn about nature and culture of people of the time. While there is not much information available on record about megalithic findings, the report of the foreigner, who excavated the site in 1918, says that there are more than 4,000 burials. “If true, it will be the biggest assemblage of megalithic burials. We intend to take this up further. With the help of the collector, we were able to map some parts of this area and excavate it,” said Chauley.
“There is also a need to educate people that these belong to the iron age and there will only be iron and pottery type artefacts and not something precious like gold. They are also being destroyed for modern constructions. In fact, two burials in Janampet were destroyed between the time we started excavation and our last visit, he added.