ASI To Resume Janampet Excavation Janampet Site Yields Prehistoric Secrets

Hyderabad: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Hyderabad circle, is set to resume excavation at the Janampet megalithic site in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district — one of the largest prehistoric burial complexes in the country. Dating to the 5th-2nd century BCE, the site was first documented over a century ago.

Discovered by a British archaeologist and excavated in 1918, Janampet revealed unique burial chambers made with large flat orthostats and massive monolithic capstones, resembling stone tables. These chambers, often surrounded by stone circles, contained pottery, iron tools and fragmentary bones.

According to the 1918 ‘Annual Report of the Archaeological Department’, published by Khawaja Muhammad Ahmad for the Nizam’s government, Janampet contains around 2,000 burials. The site is part of a broader megalithic landscape extending into Khammam and Warangal districts, marked by stone-circle monuments, dolmenoid cists and dolmens — some with up to six stone sarcophagi each. These sandstone burial coffins frequently contain pottery and iron implements such as horse bits and ploughshares.

While the ASI resumed exploration at Janampet in 2018, operations were halted due to local opposition. “The villagers claimed the land belonged to them, so we had to pause our work,” said Nikhil Das, superintending archaeologist, ASI Hyderabad circle.

“We currently have jurisdiction over 14 acres with about 50 graves and plan to submit a proposal for expanding the protected area. We’re also planning a village-to-village survey to identify more monuments with the support of the district administration, forest department and state archaeology department,” he explained.

Highlighting the region’s archaeological significance, Dr K.P. Rao, honorary professor, department of history, University of Hyderabad, said, “The region’s megalithic culture is made even more fascinating by the presence of anthropomorphic statues — human-like stone figures that may represent one of India’s earliest sculptural traditions.”

These abstract statues, mostly discovered in forested sites like ‘Rakshasi Mitta’ near Padugonigudem in Khammam district, are typically 1.5 to 2.6 metres tall. Lacking detailed anatomical features, many appear to depict female forms. Over 40 such statues have been recorded at Rakshasi Mitta alone, and archaeologists believe more remain undiscovered.

Similar anthropomorphic statues were first documented in the 19th century at Albaka, Malur and Katapur by British archaeologists J. Mulheran and William King. “While earlier sculptural traditions existed in the Indus Valley, the form and continuity of these figures suggest an indigenous innovation by Telangana’s megalithic communities,” Dr Rao added.

As ASI prepares to resume excavations at Janampet, archaeologists hope to uncover fresh insights into prehistoric burial practices and artistic expression in South India.

Inset: ASI Plans for 2024–25

The ASI Hyderabad circle has a budget of Rs 6.5 crore for the current financial year, according to superintending archaeologist Nikhil Das. The following works are planned for the coming year:

Golconda Fort: Installation of drinking water and washroom facilities at the top of the fort. ASI has appealed to corporate companies to support the initiative through CSR funding and the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme.

Interpretation centre at Alampur: A new centre to narrate the relocation of the Papanasi temples during the construction of the Srisailam Dam in the 1980s.

Jogulamba temple complex: Preparation of a comprehensive conservation and site management plan, covering nine ASI-protected structures. The plan will assess structural vulnerabilities and prioritise interventions.