Mangaluru: A team led by MSRS College History and Archaeology department Head Prof T Murugeshi has discovered a unique Megalithic burial site, dating back to 800 BC at a cashew plantation in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.
Based on the information provided by the villagers, the team visited ‘Pandavara Guhe,’ (Cave of Pandavas) at Aturu-Kundaje government cashew plantation near Ramakunja of Kadaba taluk . To their surprise they found a unique type of rock cut cave- a Megalithic burial- at the place.
“Normally the rock cut caves of the Megalithic era are 2.5 or 3 feet long with openings in the centre and about a meter deep it is hemispherical in shape. But here, there is no central opening but a huge circle engraving. The circle is about 7 feet in diameter on the laterite surface. What is more interesting is that exactly below, there is a cave with the same measurement. On the side, there is an opening of about 2 feet in height,” Prof Murugeshi told Deccan Chronicle.
“Usually, Megalithic burial sites are marked by stone circles, menhirs and stone carnes. But for the first time a sepulchral is marked by a circle,” he said.
Prof Murugeshi remarked that this could perhaps be the first rock engraving of the megalithic period found from Dakshina Kannada.
According to Prof Murugeshi, the burial site dates back to 800 BC- 500 BC.
Members of the excavation team entered the cave to get a clear picture of the structure inside.
"About 4-5 people can easily sit inside. Interestingly at the centre we noticed an altar- like pit. We did not find any grave goods inside the cave as they might have been taken away long ago," he added.
