Megalithic era burial site discovered in Dakshina Kannada

Press Release, Apr 26, 2022, 3:42 PM IST

A peculiar type of rock cut cave of Megalithic era has been found at Aturu-Kundaje government cashew nut plantaion near Ramakunja of Kadaba taluk informed Prof. Murugeshi T., Associate Professor and H.O.D. department of History and Archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva.

“Normally, the rock cut caves have 2.5 or 3 feet circular opening in center and about a meter deep it is hemispherical in shape. This type of rock-cut-caves are common in the southern west coast of Karnataka. A small variation is found in Kerala, with side openings in the subsurface, but central opening was common in both the cases,” a press release stated.

In the case which is presently under study, there is no central opening but a huge engraving of a circle about 7 feet diameter is found above the laterite surface. Exactly below this there is another hemispherical cave of same dimension with a side opening about 2 feet in height. This side entrance is designed like a door frame and it’s oriented to north-east direction, the release added.

Usually, Megalithic burial sites are marked by stone circles, menhirs and stone carnes. but, it is the first time in India a sepulchral is marked by a circle or Zero. It brings up an interesting question like did Megalithians knew Zero or did they invent it first?

Perahps, it was the first rock engraving of megalithic period found from Dakshina Kannada says Prof. Murugeshi T. No grave goods were found inside the cave, but, in the center an altar like pit is noticed and small quantity of  pottery was found in the cave. The professor opined that there was a probability of the cave had been robbed by the locals.