Definition of Megalith
Origin and Spread of Megalithic Cultures
Sepulchral megaliths, which are designed to store the remains of the deceased, exhibit a variety of burial practices:
Megalithic burials exhibit various methods for disposing of the dead. Additionally, there are megaliths that, while differing internally, share the same external features. The megaliths can be classified into different categories:
1. Rock Cut Caves:
2. Hood Stones (Kudaikallu) and Cap Stones (Toppikkals):
3. Menhirs, Alignments, and Avenues:
4. Dolmenoid Cists:
5. Cairn Circles:
Stone Circles
Pit Burials
Barrows
[Intext Question]
The objects found in megalithic burials are crucial for understanding megalithic culture. These burials, dating back to the Later Palaeolithic period, show that the dead were intentionally buried for various reasons. The megalithic people, like their predecessors, built elaborate and labor-intensive tombs, filling them with essential objects. This practice stemmed from their belief in an afterlife, necessitating the provision of goods for the deceased's needs.
In South Indian megalithic graves, the typical grave goods included:
Subsistence Pattern
Megalithic sites were initially thought to be settlements of nomadic pastoralists. However, evidence suggests that early iron age communities in far south India practiced a combination of agriculture, hunting, fishing, and animal husbandry. There is also evidence of well-developed craft traditions, indicating a sedentary lifestyle.
In Summary: The megalithic people engaged in various craft industries alongside a specialized agro-pastoral economy. These diverse economic patterns were interconnected and contributed to their way of life.
[Intext Question]
Their memorial monuments include:
The megalithic culture in Northeast India appears to have a South-East Asian influence rather than a Western one.
In South India, the remnants of megalithism among the Todas of Nilgiris are significant. Their current burial practices, which include features like grave goods (including food items) and stone circles marking burial sites, provide insights into the customs of the now-extinct megalithic builders of South India.
The study of megalithic culture faces challenges due to the nature of available sources:
[Intext Question]
Megalithic culture can be viewed as a foundational phase in the history of peninsular India due to the following aspects:
The ongoing practice of making megaliths among certain tribal communities in India further highlights the cultural legacy of this tradition.
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