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Good news for India! The Mudumal Menhirs, located near Narayanpet, Telangana, have been included in the list of potential UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Indian government sent the application to the international organisation. It is one of six sites—together with the Ashokan Edicts along Maurayan Routes, Kanger Valley National Park, the Gupta Temples, the Palaces-Fortress of Bundelas, and the Chausath Yogini Temples—added to the UNESCO tentative list. The menhirs in India reveal the intensity of ancient scientific and astronomical exploration in India and have deep religious significance!
It wasn't until the Department of Archaeology and Museums (DAM) in Telangana walled off and recorded the region in 2021–22 that the menhir site at Mudumal, on the banks of the Krishna River, which separates the State from Karnataka, started to earn the respect it deserved. It is one of the most important pre-historic sites in India!
What do we know about the menhirs in India!
As one of the largest and best-preserved megalithic astronomical observatory sites in India, the Mudumal menhirs display a complex and exact arrangement of boulder alignments, formations, and stone circles. This archaeological site's singularity in Telangana is amplified by a cluster of two different menhir types in the middle of the site.
Why it it suddenly in news?
Mudumal Menhirs is one of six sites in India that the Unesco World Heritage Centre has put on its Tentative List for 2025. Five more: Chhattisgarh's Kanger Valley National Park, various Ashokan Edict Sites, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh's Chausath Yogini Temples, various states' Gupta Temples, and Uttar Pradesh's and Madhya Pradesh's Palace-Fortresses.
Why are the Menhirs in India so culturally relevant?
The Mudumal menhirs of India are a collection of precisely aligned boulders, formations, and stone circles that constitute one of the largest and best-preserved megalithic astronomical observatory sites in India. A cluster of two kinds of menhirs in the middle of the site adds to its uniqueness. Nilurallu Thimmappa, which translates as "Thimmappa of the Standing Stones" in the local language, is a venerated menhir in the northern part of the site and further emphasises the cultural importance of the area. Because of their high social standing, these menhirs have been mostly untouched by human interference.
There is perhaps no larger megalithic burial site in South India than the Mudumal menhirs, which date back 3,500 years. Former head of the State Archaeology Department Rao has been studying menhirs since 2003 and has given many presentations at conferences throughout the world. In addition to their importance in archaeology, he claims these stones have astrological significance.
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Aside from the large stones that stand alone, there are also smaller stones arranged in circles and what appear to be thousands of boulders scattered out across an area of 80 acres, all of which point to the site's singularity. The ancient community's funeral rights are associated with the over 3,000 alignment stones and 80 menhirs that range in height from 10 to 14 feet. There is a space of twenty-five to twenty-seven feet between each row or line of stones. Along with the alignment stone, you can see cup-marks, which are depressions measuring 3-4 mm. Seven stars stand out on it. Ursa Major, also known as Saptarshi Mandal, is shown here. The North Star or Pole Star can be located by drawing an imaginary line between the two uppermost stars in the rectangle Dubhe and Merak. At night, we can determine the north direction. As far as we know, this is the first South Asian constellation illustration,
The local lore of Mudumal Standing Stones
According to the locals of Mudumal, an enraged goddess punished the inhabitants of the area for disobeying her by turning them into these strange-looking stones scattered around the area. As time has passed, local communities have come to identify these stones with their history and traditions, and they have begun to incorporate them into their rituals and beliefs. One menhir is revered as Goddess Yellamma, while the others are called 'Niluralla Thimmappa' (Thimmappa of the Standing Stones) by the locals, who hold them in high esteem emotionally. The site's continued cultural importance is shown by the link between the stones and the local beliefs.
The combination of astronomical and archaeological aspects further supports Mudumal's promise to add to our knowledge of ancient civilisations and their intricate connection to the heavens. Mudumal is set to gain even more importance within the larger context of megalithic civilisations as archaeological and academic efforts continue, strengthening its case for being included to the World Heritage List!