An Ethoarchaeological Study of Megalithic Culture of Austroasiatic Communities in Jharkhand

Abstract (English)

Throughout the history of the mankind, concept of monumentality is a very common phenomenon. Megalithic monuments are commonly found all over the world since ancient time and even today number of ethnographic parallels can be witnessed among many societies who have similar sort of concept raising stone structures in the memory of their dead relatives and their final resting place. In Indian subcontinent, Megalithic culture is dated from Early Iron age and associated with number of Iron implements and Black and Red Ware. Besides this, almost entire subcontinent has a sort of living tradition of raising stone monuments as a funerary and commemorative structure. This paper deals with the Megalithic culture of Jharkhand, in eastern India. The landscape of the study area have both ancient monuments and ancestral sites, featuring the Megalithic monuments of Austroasiatic communities; Munda, Bhumij and Ho tribes. It is an Ethoarchaeological study to understand the past culture of ancient Megalithic builders, through living practices of different AA populations. It also reveals the socio-cultural aspect of Megalithic culture of these communities. Comparing the data from ethnographic evidence and recovered archaeological record, inferences can be drawn that both ancient and present Megalithic authors shares several cultural traits alike.