An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s17.75

v1.c9.s17.75

At KESARAPALLE (Sarkar, 1966) the habitational deposit of the culture, located close to a cluster of rectangular cist burials, was found interlocked with the Chalcolithic [4.14.7], while its later stage showed an overlap with the historical phase conspicuous by the presence of the Rouletted Ware. The time span of the megalithic culture, calculated on the basis of stratigraphy and the occurrence of a sherd of the NBPW [11.16] in the upper level of the megalithic deposit, was from the middle of the 5th century B.C. to the 1st century A.D. With a height of 2·40 m, the occupational deposit of the megalith-builders disclosed traces of post-holes, ashy bands and hearths filled in with chunks of burnt earth and ash. Apart from animal bones, iron objects, a stone pigment-grinder, pottery discs, stone and terracotta beads, a bone spacer bead, annular terracotta rings, etc., were also unearthed. The evidence from DHARANIKOTA and KESARAPALLE shows that the dwellings of the megalith builders were unpretentious huts built on earth-fast poles and that the material equipments do not suggest a prosperous economy. The use of iron, including evolved types of tools and weapons, would certainly indicate a period of developed food-producing economy in which agriculture might have played an important role.