Archaeologists are heaving a sigh of relief as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is keen to ensure that the work on upgrading NH 63 does not disturb the ‘ash mound’, an important neolithic site in Ballari district.
The NHAI team, which visited the site, is thinking of a road realignment.
Ajay Mani, Project Director, NHAI, along with P. Madhu, Manager (Technical) and other officials inspected the site in the wake of apprehensions expressed by historians and naturalists, that the 5,000-year-old ash mound may have to be removed to pave way for developing the highway into a four-lane.
The NHAI authorities collected samples of ash from the mound and discussed realignment of the road.
Mr. Mani told The Hindu that he had instructed his technical staff to bring out a modified design. He said that he would soon meet the Deputy Commissioner and other authorities concerned to show the alternative design and seek their approval.
Santosh Martin, a naturalist, said this archaeological site was one of the most important in southern India and represented the earlier pastoral community’s settlement dating back to 5,000 years ago. It is associated with the neolithic period when hunter-gatherers became agriculturists and is the centre of a series of ash mounds located in the district.
