Neolithic ashmounds (sometimes termed as cinder mounds[1]) are man-made landscape features found in some parts of southern India (mainly in semi-arid regions of northern Karnataka, western Andra Pradesh and Telangana) that have been dated to the Neolithic period (3000 to 1200 BC). They have been a puzzle for long and have been the subject of many conjectures and scientific studies. Traditionally they were thought to be the byproducts of early pastoralist behavior but now they are recognized as multi-functional sites including ritual performance. These were produced by early pastoral and agricultural communities by the burning of wood, dung and animal matter. Hundreds of ashmound sites have been identified and many have a low perimeter embankment and some have holes that may have held posts.[2]
Close up of material at the Budikanama siteThe Budikanama site was almost destroyed for a highway in 2018
These ashmounds were traditionally given mythological explanations as the burnt remains of rakshasas like Bakasura and Hidimba.[4][5]
The earliest scientific observations were recorded in the early nineteenth century. In 1836, Thomas J. Newbold sent notes on the mound of Būdigunta to James Prinsep, who published them in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Newbold initially suggested that the mounds might be volcanic scoria because the material had a glassy surface and produced a hollow sound when struck. He later questioned this idea because there was no other volcanic evidence in the region and local furnaces did not produce similar slag.[6]
Newbold also referred to Buchanan Hamilton’ s notes on the Rajmahal Hills, which described calcareous remains locally called asurhar bones (“giant’s bones”). Cavelly Venkata Lachmia, a colleague of Colin Mackenzie and president of the Madras Hindu Literary Society, reported local theories that these remains derived from past religious sacrifices or funerary rites following battles. He also noted similar sites around Mysore, including Budihal and Buditippa, where the prefix būdi means “ash”.[6] Budigunta near Bellary was described as the largest mound, measuring about 46 feet in height and 420 feet in circumference.[7]
Robert Sewell conjectured that the region was once densely forested and considered several possible explanations including furnaces. He also had the material examined and it was declared that it could not have come from furnaces or brick kilns. The burning of animal matter was considered as one possible source. He also pointed out that these could have been the result of large pyres where the wives of kings committed sati.[1]
Robert Bruce Foote examined Budikanama in 1872 and suggested that these mounds were produced by burning dung and suggested a similarity to zaribas in Africa. Around the same time two amateur archaeologists dug a mound in Kupgal and found bones, pottery, stone axes and other artefacts. Allchin in 1963 made an analysis of all the theories and pointed out that rainfall was higher in the region during the Neolithic and that these may have been forested regions which were burnt down for livestock.[8]
Archaeological studies have continued into recent times. Some of the plant remains have been identified and millet cultivation may have been important. Two staple millets Brachiaria ramosa and Setaria verticillata which are not common in modern cultivation were found in several sites while the commonest legumes were Vigna radiata and Macrotyloma uniflorum.[9][10] The animal remains are mainly of cattle, buffalo and pig (whether wild or domesticated, is not easy to determine).[2][11]
In 2024, a few Neolithic ashmounds in Ballari were destroyed in the process of development projects due to historical ignorance.[12]
Geographical distribution
The distribution of ashmounds follows the stable land formation of the Deccan plateau and semi-arid weather. Most of the sites studied are within an area bounded by the Western Ghats, north by Deccan trap rocks, east by the linguistic boundary between modern Kannada and Telugu, and south is vaguely defined. This region corresponds to the valleys of the Tungabhadra, Krishna, and Hagari rivers.[8]
↑Fuller, Dorian Q. (2001). "Dung Mounds and Domesticators: Early Cultivation and Pastoralism in Karnataka". In Jarrige, C.; Lefèvre, V. (eds.). South Asian Archaeology. Volume 1(PDF). pp.117–127.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
