An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s4.6

v1.c17.s4.6

In the Neolithic-Chalcolithic cultures of peninsular India [4.6.7-9; 4.14.6-8] the people as a rule disposed of their dead within the habitational area usually below the floors of rooms but sometimes in the front verandas of huts and within roads and lanes. They followed both the well-known modes of complete inhumation and fractional burial. However they also practised a kind of burial called urn burial. The speciality of these burials lies not so much in the actual mode of the disposal of the dead body as in their earthenware containers—globular jars, used singly and kept upright, or two placed mouth-to-mouth and laid horizontally, or several of them arranged telescopically and placed horizontally. In some extended adult burials the bones below the ankles are cut, as if to demobilize the ghosts of the deceased persons. In certain examples at NAGARJUNAKONDA post-exposure bones have been found arranged in a manner as if the burial was extended. Infants were however buried in pots in flexed manner. At BRAHMAGIRI there is evidence of single urn burials for infants laid in an embryonic position and extended burials in oblong pits for grown-up children and adults. At NEVASA double and multiple urn burials for infants and children and extended pit burials for adults are noticed. Here it is clear that infant mortality was very high since out of the 131 excavated graves only three belonged to adults. At DAIMABAD, CHANDOLI and INAMGAON the same evidence is repeated—multiple-pot burials within the habitation interspersed with adult burials in oblong pits. The grave goods are small pots, beads and bangles of different materials.