A rare Megalithic cist burial (Gudu samadhi) belonging between 1000 BCE and 600 CE has been found in a farm at Dasaram village, located close to Musi river in Nereducherla mandal in Nalgonda district.
Annapureddy Chandra Reddy, a farmer, stumbled upon the burial when the tractor ploughing agricultural land got stuck in slush. On finding the structure, the tractor was safely moved out and the revenue officials were alerted about the discovery.
Archaeology and Museums Department officials led by Assistant Director D. Ramulu Nayak and former conservator Y. Bhanu Murthy inspected the site and concluded that it was cist burial belonging to Megalithic period.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Murthy said apart from the burial ground, they found stones used for sharpening weapons and slingshots used for protecting crops from birds. “People of that time used to bury the things used by the deceased person during interment ,” he said.
The burial has stones on four sides and capstone on the top . Similar burials were found at archaeological sites located at Phanigiri and another near Bhongir in district in the past, but they were yet to be excavated.
Shockingly, Mr. Murthy said, the local farmers have damaged at least 15 to 20 such burials unknowingly while ploughing their farms. The archaeological site is still having at least 30 more such burials which would give more insights once excavated.
Mr. Nayak said he had written a letter to the District Collector requesting him to declare the land as protected archaeological site. Meanwhile, he said he also had written to Director of Archaeology and Museums requesting for sanction of grants to take up the excavation of the rare site. Both the officials said there could have been a habitation of people, who buried their near and dear ones, 2 km away from the present find. Farmers near the Musi had in the past found red and black ware. Mr. Chandra Reddy said he did not know the structure holds such an importance until the Archaeology Department officials told them.
