Kachanapalli continues to attract history enthusiasts and research scholars from far-off places
The vast megalithic site at Kachanapalli, known for its rich archaeological heritage and hoary past, nestled in bushy forests of Gundala mandal in Kothagudem division continues to attract history enthusiasts and research scholars from far off places.
The site has shot into limelight after its chance discovery by a team of undergraduate, PG and Ph. D students in history from University of Hyderabad and Khammam-based SR&BGNR Government Degree and PG College during a field trip to Kachanapalli in 2012.
Located about 75 km from Khammam, the sprawling site encompasses close to hundred megaliths comprising one female anthropomorphic statue in the vicinity of Batannanagar near Kachanapalli. One of the striking features of the site is the rock engraving of a person holding a baby right in front of a dolmen. A three-member team comprising experts in human skeletal biology and ancient DNA study had visited the megalithic site at Kachanapalli over a week ago.
The team included Assistant Professor Dr. Veena Mushrif Tripathy, Human Skeletal Biologist, Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune, Niraj Rai, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, and Kendra Sirak, Ph.D candidate in anthropology at Emory University, Atlanta, United States. Assistant Professor of History at SR&BGNR College Lt. K John Milton also accompanied them.
The team also visited the megalithic site on the campus of SR&BGNR College in Khammam. The college Principal Dr U Veerabhadraiah apprised them of the various types of pottery and iron implements unearthed from the megalithic site on the college campus a few years ago.
When contacted over phone, Dr Veena told The Hindu that the dolmens found at the site at Kachanapalli were very important from both archaeological and anthropological aspects. These megalithic monuments should be conserved for posterity. They will shed light on megalithic culture which was around 1000 BCE, their architecture, its development, mortuary practices and their beliefs about dead and their emotional behaviour, she noted.
The physical anthropological analysis will be helpful in understanding the adaptations, their morphology, pathology (ancient diseases) and their way of life, she said, adding that the megalithic monuments of Khammam will play a vital role in understanding local history.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / P. Sridhar / Khammam – April 20th, 2016