Iron Age (Megalithic period) burial sites datable to the period between 1000 and 500 BC have been found endangered at Tangeda village in Dachepalli mandal in Guntur district.
On the border
Called dolmens, the structures built of locally available huge slabs of Palnadu limestone to house the skeletal remains of the dead of the Iron Age, have been found scattered at many places, said E. Sivanagi Reddy, archaeologist and CEO, Cultural Centre Of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA), as part of the heritage awareness programme ‘Preserve Heritage For Posterity’ launched by the centre on Wednesday. In a release, Dr. Reddy said he noticed 20 sites during a survey on the right side of the river Krishna.
“I was shocked when shepherds informed me that about 80 such structures were destroyed during the construction of the bridge ten years ago and a few were appropriated as building material by the villagers not aware of the archaeological importance, for various purposes over a period of time,’’ he said. Dr. Reddy also spotted a few sites small in size meant for burying children. He said as the sites are practically on the A.P.- Telangana border, they could be developed as an archaeological or heritage tourist destination by adding a prehistoric theme park with basic amenities.
Published - March 14, 2019 12:55 am IST
