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Close on the heels of Megalithic habitation site discovery in Babulgaon in Yavatmal district by a trainee archaeologist, a city student
and a lecturer have for the first time unearthed three burial sites near Narkhed, 85 kms from Nagpur in the district.
The two discoveries show that Vidarbha is rich in archaeological vestiges and wide range of sites from the Palaeolithic to historic period indicate that the region was favourable for the ancient man. However, out of these sites, Vidarbha is known for Megalithic monuments that date back to 1000 BC (3000 years old). It is noteworthy that after south India, the region yielded Megalithic sites and it’s also important to note that Nagpur region is rich in these stone circles than other 10 districts of Vidarbha.
The three Megalithic burial sites at Vadegaon, Umri and Thugaon Nipani near Narkhed were discovered in the past three days by Virag Sontakke, budding archaeologist trained from Institute of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Delhi, and Gopal Joge, lecturer of history in Maharashtra Udyagiri Mahavidyalaya, Udgir in Latur district.
The sites found by Joge and Sontakke speak of proto-historic culture and start of iron age in India. There are 107 Megalithic burial and habitation sites in Vidarbha but it’s for the first time such sites have come to light near Narkhed.
Speaking to TOI, Sontakke and Joge said, Vadegaon is located on Nagpur-Delhi railway line, where more than 50 megalithic burials made of basalt stone have been discovered. Most of these monuments are located in two-km barren land, but due to human pressure, Megalithic sites are being utilised for agriculture. "Six months ago, I had sighted these stones while travelling to Delhi. Since then I had decided to know about it. Today, I’ve discovered it," Sontakke said.
About the second site in Umri, Sontakke informed that it has only one single stone circle on a flat barren land, which is very rare. The stone circle having diameter of 15 metres shows cup marks. The third site was found in Thugaon Nipani village on Katol-Narkhed road, which people call as ‘Nagthana’ and is worshipped by villagers on Nag Panchmi. All these stones are rich in cup marks, he adds.
"These discoveries are important to know Megalithic culture and the findings look similar to the burial sites found in Mahurzari (1979), Parsheoni (1977), Hingna (1982) by researchers from Nagpur University and Deccan College, Pune. The new sites connect Amravati and Wardha and further research can lead to discovery of more habitations," stressed expert Priyadarshi Khobragade, lecturer with department of ancient Indian history & archaeology, PGTD, Nagpur.
Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Nagpur/Megalithic_burial_sites_found/articleshow/3616745.cms
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