Impetus for heritage conservation mission

Pottery unearthed at college to be sent for analysis. The sprawling campus has nearly 20 megaliths. Some of the archaeological findings have been shifted to the museum at the University of Hyderabad.

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Scientific Officer Daisy Joseph, examining megalithic pottery at SR & BGNR Government Degree and PG College in Khammam on Monday. PHOTO: G.N. RAO

In a major impetus to the heritage conservation mission of the History Department of SR&BGNR Government Degree and PG College here, an officer from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, collected samples of the megalithic pottery unearthed on the college campus, for elemental analysis.

The sprawling campus has nearly 20 megaliths. A diverse range of objects of archaeological importance such as pottery of four different types and iron objects were discovered during an excavation conducted by a team headed by Prof. K.P. Rao of the University of Hyderabad on the college campus in 2012.

Some of the archaeological findings have been shifted to the museum at the University of Hyderabad. The remaining historical objects have been stored at the NCC room at the college in the absence of a museum in the district headquarters.

Meanwhile, a glass display case has been installed at the NCC room to preserve and showcase some of the archaeological findings including pottery.

Daisy Joseph, scientific officer, BARC, Mumbai, who was in town to attend a conference, examined the archaeological remnants of megalithic age at the NCC room of the college here on Monday.

College principal S. Madhava Rao, vice-principal Sudhakar and others were present.

Lt. John Milton, the associate NCC officer and a history lecturer of the college apprised Ms. Daisy Joseph of the discovery during an excavation at the megalithic site on the college campus in 2012.

Speaking to The Hindu , Ms. Daisy Joseph said samples of megalithic pottery would be subjected to elemental analysis through Proton induced X-ray Emission and Proton induced Gamma-Ray Emission methods at BARC to determine what age the pottery might belong to. The elemental analysis results will be conveyed to the college authorities soon, she said.

“The elemental analysis of the pottery will help establish the age of the archaeological findings,” said Mr. Milton. It will further facilitate comparative studies to ascertain the chronological sequence of megalithic culture in the region, he asserted.