3,000-Year-Old Megalithic Dolmen Discovered in Mahabubnagar District

A rare Megalithic dolmen burial discovered in Telangana’s Mahabubnagar district has drawn fresh attention to the region’s prehistoric legacy and the need to protect its fragile archaeological heritage. The stone burial structure was identified near the border of Bhutpur and Bijinepally mandals by Manisha, a student of the Department of History, Culture and Tourism at Suravaram Pratap Reddy Telugu University, during a field study. She reported the find to Assistant Professor Dr. M. A. Srinivasan , prompting academic documentation and calls for further investigation.

The dolmen a chamber-like structure formed by placing large upright stone slabs and sealing them with a massive capstone reflects the funerary traditions of early Iron Age communities. Such monuments are characteristic of the Megalithic period , generally dated between 1000 BCE and 500 BCE , and provide valuable evidence of prehistoric social organisation, burial customs, and stone-working skills. Archaeologists believe these structures served as burial chambers, memorial sites, or ritual spaces linked to ancestor veneration and afterlife beliefs.

Telangana, particularly the Mahabubnagar–Narayanpet belt, is known for its dense concentration of Megalithic remains, including dolmens, stone circles, cairns, and menhirs. These burial landscapes indicate the presence of organised settlements and complex ritual practices across the Deccan plateau. Similar discoveries in the region have offered insights into early belief systems, mortuary rituals, and even possible astronomical alignments, suggesting that prehistoric communities possessed both spiritual and scientific awareness.

Dr. Srinivasan noted that it is yet to be verified whether the newly found burial has been officially recorded by the Archaeology Department. He emphasised that while Megalithic monuments are widespread across Telangana, many remain undocumented and vulnerable to damage from quarrying, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Scholars stress that systematic surveying, mapping, and conservation are essential to protect these irreplaceable cultural assets.

Historians and heritage enthusiasts have welcomed the student’s discovery, describing it as a reminder of the region’s deep historical roots. Experts believe that continued exploration in the surrounding landscape could uncover additional burial sites and settlement traces, helping reconstruct patterns of early human habitation in southern India.

Archaeology advocates have urged the government to preserve the site and promote awareness so that it may be protected for future generations. With proper conservation and interpretation, such monuments could also support heritage education and responsible tourism, transforming silent stone relics into enduring witnesses of Telangana’s ancient past.