Hyderabad: The 3,500-year-old menhirs at Mudumal in Telangana‘s Narayanpet district (formerly in undivided Mahabubnagar) have finally made it to the tentative list of Unesco’s world heritage sites. This is one step short of being recognised as a world heritage site.
The central government submitted the dossier on the menhirs (prehistoric standing stones) to the Unesco world heritage convention on Feb 11. The Mudumal relics are among the six sites across India submitted to Unesco this year for the world heritage tag. Experts say that Mudumal could be one of the best examples of the megalithic man’s understanding in astronomy. At the same time, menhirs are found in many parts of the world but their real purpose is not clear. It is believed that tall structures were erected to mark celestial or calendar events. Some believe that they were sacrificial sites.
“Mudumal stands out not only for its similarities to other renowned sites but also for its distinctive features. The precise alignment of its menhirs reflects an advanced grasp of mathematics and astronomy, establishing it as a rare archaeo-astronomical site,” the Centre’s dossier said adding that the ongoing cultural practices surrounding the menhirs highlight the living traditions maintained by local communities, enriching the site’s narrative.
The dossier adds, “The fusion of archaeological and astronomical elements reinforces Mudumal’s potential to significantly contribute to our understanding of prehistoric societies and their complex relationship with celestial phenomena… the site spans around 80 acres… and is a significant remnant of the megalithic tradition in South Asia.”
The site includes a cuboid-shaped rock that signifies the Ursa Major constellation.
“This careful depiction of the night sky reveals the advanced astronomical knowledge of the site’s builders and points to the site’s function as a place of celestial observation. The Ursa Major is significant, as it has been revered in various cultures for its link with the North Star… The positioning of two stars in… (Ursa Major), Merak and Dubhe, points to the North Star, a crucial navigational guide for centuries. The alignment of this stone with the winter solstice sunrise further emphasizes the astronomical precision and ingenuity employed in the construction of the site,” the dossier points out. The site also depicts the constellation, Leo.
Within Telangana, Mudumal is the second monument in the tentative list, besides the Qutub Shahi buildings or monuments and forts of the Deccan Sultanate. The Deccan dossier has been pending since Apr 15, 2014, with authorities not insisting on its approval by Unesco’s International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). Lepakshi temple complex in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh was also included in the tentative list. It’s the only site in AP awaiting world heritage tag.
If accepted, Mudumal will be the second world heritage site in Telangana after Ramappa temple complex in Mulugu district (formerly in undivided Warangal). Unlike Ramappa and Qutub Shahi constructions, Mudumal menhirs are not monuments but speak volumes of the ingenuity of the prehistoric man or forefathers of people in Telugu states. Mudumal located near the banks of the river Krishna bordering Karnataka also provides an insight into the astronomical knowledge of prehistoric people.
The central government submitted the dossier on the menhirs (prehistoric standing stones) to the Unesco world heritage convention on Feb 11. The Mudumal relics are among the six sites across India submitted to Unesco this year for the world heritage tag. Experts say that Mudumal could be one of the best examples of the megalithic man’s understanding in astronomy. At the same time, menhirs are found in many parts of the world but their real purpose is not clear. It is believed that tall structures were erected to mark celestial or calendar events. Some believe that they were sacrificial sites.
“Mudumal stands out not only for its similarities to other renowned sites but also for its distinctive features. The precise alignment of its menhirs reflects an advanced grasp of mathematics and astronomy, establishing it as a rare archaeo-astronomical site,” the Centre’s dossier said adding that the ongoing cultural practices surrounding the menhirs highlight the living traditions maintained by local communities, enriching the site’s narrative.
The dossier adds, “The fusion of archaeological and astronomical elements reinforces Mudumal’s potential to significantly contribute to our understanding of prehistoric societies and their complex relationship with celestial phenomena… the site spans around 80 acres… and is a significant remnant of the megalithic tradition in South Asia.”
The site includes a cuboid-shaped rock that signifies the Ursa Major constellation.
“This careful depiction of the night sky reveals the advanced astronomical knowledge of the site’s builders and points to the site’s function as a place of celestial observation. The Ursa Major is significant, as it has been revered in various cultures for its link with the North Star… The positioning of two stars in… (Ursa Major), Merak and Dubhe, points to the North Star, a crucial navigational guide for centuries. The alignment of this stone with the winter solstice sunrise further emphasizes the astronomical precision and ingenuity employed in the construction of the site,” the dossier points out. The site also depicts the constellation, Leo.
Within Telangana, Mudumal is the second monument in the tentative list, besides the Qutub Shahi buildings or monuments and forts of the Deccan Sultanate. The Deccan dossier has been pending since Apr 15, 2014, with authorities not insisting on its approval by Unesco’s International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). Lepakshi temple complex in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh was also included in the tentative list. It’s the only site in AP awaiting world heritage tag.
If accepted, Mudumal will be the second world heritage site in Telangana after Ramappa temple complex in Mulugu district (formerly in undivided Warangal). Unlike Ramappa and Qutub Shahi constructions, Mudumal menhirs are not monuments but speak volumes of the ingenuity of the prehistoric man or forefathers of people in Telugu states. Mudumal located near the banks of the river Krishna bordering Karnataka also provides an insight into the astronomical knowledge of prehistoric people.