The Archaeological Site of Brahmagiri

Situated at the foot of the Brahmagiri hills, approximately 40 kilometres from Ballari, is an unassuming village with a significant archaeological site. This site, nestled in Brahmagiri, Karnataka, continues establishing southern India's fundamental chronology and ceramic sequence. It stands as the standard against which all subsequent archaeological discoveries are gauged, with the earliest settlement unearthed at this location dating back to at least the 2nd millennium BC.

Material deposits from the Brahmagiri rock shelter I Source: Researchgate.net

Situated within the Chitradurga district of Karnataka state, an archaeological site known as Brahmagiri holds significance. This site bears historical and cultural importance, intertwined with certain legends. A local tale narrates that it was the dwelling place of the renowned sage Gautama Maharishi, one of the legendary sapta rishis, and his wife, Ahalya, prominent figures in Hindu epics like the Ramayana.

Beyond folklore, the Brahmagiri site comprises a granite outcrop spanning around 500 metres east-west and 100 metres north-south, elevating about 180 metres above the adjacent plains. It stands renowned for housing a considerable number of megalithic monuments. The earliest settlement uncovered here dates back to at least the second millennium BC. Notably, the site also holds a connection to the ancient Mauryan Empire. In 1891, historian and archaeologist Benjamin L. Rice discovered a historical rock edict of Emperor Ashoka here, locally referred to as Ashoka Shilashaan. Excavations further revealed prehistoric burial sites, yielding neolithic and megalithic artefacts.

At Brahmagiri, an inhabited area was also unearthed through excavation. These excavations unveiled five distinct cultural layers—Microlithic, Neolithic, Iron Age Mauryan, and Chalukya Hoysala. Through the excavation, artefacts such as medieval stone temples, ceramics, terracotta beads and figures, semiprecious stones, and megalithic structures were unearthed. The microlithic culture was named the Roppa culture by Amlanandan Ghosh, after the Roppa locality where the microlithic trench was discovered. It was also deduced that the neoliths discovered in this area indicated the presence of farming and herding groups prior to the megalithic era.

In 1947, Mortimer Wheeler conducted additional excavations at Brahmagiri. The mortuary at the site revealed around 300 tombs, characterised by burials within rectangular cists, cist-circles (stones enclosing granite cists), and pit circles. Intriguing artefacts discovered within these cists included iron and copper implements, stone beads, and containers with graffiti. Wheeler's findings also included the identification of ten domestic structures belonging to three distinct cultural periods: Neolithic or Neolithic-Chalcolithic Period I, Megalithic Period II, and Early Historical Period III.

Recent archaeological exploration at Brahmagiri led to the discovery of rock art panels dated to the Iron Age. The site exhibited archaeological features such as cupules found on granite boulders and megaliths.

Recent discussions have questioned the validity of the Brahmagiri archaeological sequence or analysis as a comprehensive model for early South Indian history. Some scholars point out weaknesses in the ceramics and lithics taxonomy, stratigraphic analysis, statistical treatment of artefact distributions, and insufficient reporting. Further research is required to unveil additional insights into the archaeological, prehistoric, and early historic dimensions that this site may hold. For now, it is prudent to acknowledge that the site has played a crucial role in providing insights into the early and prehistoric history of South India, as well as the remarkable megalithic cultures.

The Neolithic Period I, spanning from the early 1st millennium to the beginning of the 2nd century BC, was distinguished by an abundance of polished dolerite stone axes. Other lithic tools included parallel-sided blades and microliths in shapes such as crescents, beaked gravers, backed blades, and crested ridge blades. Surprisingly, there was a considerable number of blades without fluted cores. This period also witnessed limited use of metal, although handmade vessels crafted from coarse grey fabric were present. Some pottery featured painted decorations, including a herringbone pattern. Two types of burial practices were observed—infant urn burial and adult inhumation burial. It was believed that the Asokan edicts of Brahmagiri were directed towards the populace of the latter stage of Period I.

Period II, ranging from the 2nd century BC to the middle of the 1st century AD, was characterised by the use of iron for agricultural and offensive purposes, alongside polished stone axes and microliths as tools for survival. The pottery of this period primarily consisted of three fabrics: highly polished black-and-red pottery, all-black ware, and bright as well as coarse dull-red ware—distinct from the previous culture. A noteworthy feature was the disposal of the deceased in specifically constructed stone cists or excavated pits, each encircled by surface rocks forming a circle, or occasionally two concentric circles. It was conjectured that pit circles served either as human macerating pits or as specialised tombs for a specific and limited social grade.

Early Historic Period III, spanning from the middle of the 1st century to the 3rd century AD, witnessed more sophisticated pottery created on a fast wheel, coated in a russet hue and adorned with white-painted geometric patterns (Russet-coated Painted Ware). The shallow dish with an internally beaked edge and the straight-sided bowl were prominent pottery forms. The use of glass for ornaments was also prevalent. Notably, a fragment of a round terracotta medallion featuring a perimeter of elephants attested to the popular art of this period.

Known locally as Ashoka Siddapura, this area, according to historians, marked the southernmost boundary of Ashoka's empire. Named Isila, it served as the headquarters of the ruling Mahamatras of Suvamagini at the time. The rock edict resides on a sizable rocky platform measuring roughly 10x14 feet, positioned about 20 feet above the ground within a protective enclosure alongside the road. According to ASI archives, the inscription, conveying a message of tolerance and peace, dates back to approximately 272 to 232 BC. It is inscribed in the Brahmi script and the Prakrit language. The edict is now sheltered by a canopy and a grill enclosure to shield it from the elements. Ascending to it requires navigating a steep, winding staircase. Below the structure are two display boards—one describing the inscriptions in Prakrit and the other providing an English transliteration. The edict encapsulates Ashoka's philosophy on dhamma.

A megalithic burial at Brahmagiri I Source: http://www.kathleenmorrisonlab.com/-