Megalithic Cultures of South India

The neolithic phase of south India, which was highlighted by the use of polished stone axe and blade tools, was succeeded by the Megalithic cultures (1200 BC - 300 BC). Megaliths were tomb spots consisting of burials or graves covered with huge (mega) stones.

They were, in most cases, located outside the settlement area. These Megalith burials have yielded the first iron objects from south India. Besides these the use of Black and Red ware pottery was also a distinctive feature of the Megalithic people.

These Megaliths have been found in large numbers from the Nagpur area in Maharashtra in north to the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula. Prominent sites that have yielded Megalith graves include Brahmagiri, Maski, (Karnataka). Adichallanur (Tamilnadu) and Junapani near Nagpur (Maharastra).

Identical iron tools have been found universally from all the Megalith graves. These tools which indicate their craft activities and include arrowheads, daggers, swords, spearheads, tridents, battle axe, hoes, ploughshares, sickles, etc. These artifacts, along with the food grains such as wheat, rice, etc., found at various megalithic sites indicate that the megalithic people followed for their livelihood agro-pastoral and hunting activities.

The megalithic period in south India was followed by the Sangam age.