An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s17.24

v1.c9.s17.24

(8) Memorial stones: Added to the sepulchral monuments listed above there are 'menhirs'—upright single stones 1 to 3 m in height. Sometimes they are reported to have been planted over a few funerary pots containing bones, although the excavation at MASKI has yielded nothing. When several menhirs are arranged in rows of three or more they form an ‘alignment’. When two or more alignments are arranged parallel to each other they are an ‘avenue’. All these monuments ‘seem to suggest commemorative and perhaps magical prophylactic functions for the stones.’ Menhirs are widespread, occurring not only in peninsular India but in the Kashmir valley [4.17.1], Chota Nagpur [4.17.4] and e. India [4.17.5].