[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c9.s17.87 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s17.87 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s17.87 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c9.s17.87](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s17.87) (1) Chamber tombs, of structural and excavated categories, comprise five types: structural orthostatic passage chambers, port-holed chambers, oblong chambers, small square chambers and rock-excavated tombs. The passage chambers, about 2500 in all, are found in about 35 localities situated in the quartzitic sandstone and limestone areas of the Ghataprabha, Malaprabha and lower Krishna valleys in Dts Belgaum, Bijapur and Gulbarga, being concentrated in the first two Dts. According to plans, orientations and methods of erections they may be grouped into four subtypes: chambers (i) of trapezoidal and (ii) rectangular plan (Konnur type), (iii) of Greek or Latin cross plan and (iv) of circular plan (Terdal type). While (i) to (iii) are oriented approximately to the s. the last may point to any direction. The port-holed chambers occurring over a wide area in granitic-gneiss zone are of four subtypes: (i) with the port-hole of uniform size in the s. or e. orthostat approached by a passage, found in the Aihole-Hagaratgi area (Aihole type); (ii) with the port-hole of varying size in any of the orthostats without passage, found in Rajankolur area (Rajankolur type); and (iii) and (iv) similar but of usually contra-clockwise plan, found in Brahmagiri and Hire-Benkal areas (Brahmagiri and Hire-Benkal types). Occasionally small square chambers are associated with the Konnur and Brahmagiri types. Passage and port-holed chambers are either raised on the ground, concealed under heavy rubble packing and bound by a rectangle or circle or both, or buried partially or fully in the ground surrounding or overlain by rubble packing bound by a circle, being accordingly dolmenoid cists and cists. The oblong and square chambers are without passage or port-hole and are generally cists, found in the Gulbarga-Raichur-Bellary area. Some of the oblong cists in Gulbarga have a non-functional passage partially buried in the upper cairn packing in the same orientation as that of the cist in the pit below. The rock-excavated chambers are hemispherical with a opening at the top facing the sky, covered with a granite slab, so far known only in the laterite plains of s. Kanara. - [Previous: v1.c9.s17.86](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s17.86) - [Next: v1.c9.s17.88](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s17.88) - [Up: v1.c9.s17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s17) ## Cites (4) - [Terdal](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.terdal) - [Aihole](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.aihole) - [Hirebenkal](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.hirebenkal) - [Rajankolur](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.rajankolur) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s17.87](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c9.s17.87) · Pramāṇa