Megaliths and Early Monumental Architecture

Various aspects of the Iron Age-Early Historic landscape of south India are being explored. An intensive survey of megalithic or Iron Age-Early Historic (IA-EH) burials at an archaeological site outside Chennai was carried out. The link between prehistoric monuments and later architecture has been studied. Through extensive field-based studies at a number of megalithic sites, the influence of megaliths on later structures like stupas and dolmens have been traced. Four new megalithic sites as well as a prehistoric rock-art site have been discovered and reported. The knowledge systems of megalith-builders constitute another aspect of study within this area.