The mystery of 610 human skulls that were found a couple of years ago near Annigeri town in Navalgund taluk, Dharwad district, has been solved. According to the experts they belong to victims of a famine that had hit the region in 1790.
Even the gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency has a mention of this severe drought which is known as the ‘Daugi Bara’ (skull drought) and hit the region from 1792 to 1796.
The drought was so severe that large number of people left the area in search of food and water and most of who remained died due to starvation. Wild animals fed on these carcasses leaving the bones and skulls. It may be recalled that according to the C-14 ‘carbon dating’ test conducted by US-based Beta lab, the skulls were 180- year-old.
Department of Archeology and Museum Director R Gopal told Express that based on reports submitted by US lab and forensic experts of Department of Forensic Odontology and SDM College it has been concluded that the skulls belonged to the famine victims. SDM College’s report said that the skull belonged to men and women aged between 6 and 60 years.
The people who had returned to their native after a few years following the famine mobilised the remains there and performed mass burial of skulls in one place and other bones at the other. They placed the skull beside a water body and buried them to show respect to their loved one. “Taking into account all the research results we have come to a definite conclusion that the victims were of a famine. The death was not the result of any battle as none had taken place. No further test would be conducted. A report on this will be submitted to the government in the first week of next month,” he added.