4000 BC Neolithic grooves found on hill top of Pavuralagutta in Nalgonda

Nalgonda: Archaeologist Dr. E. Siva Nagi Reddy along with his team has found Neolithic grooves dating back to 4000 BC, on a hill located on the left bank of the Krishna river at Pavuralagutta of Pedda Adicharla mandal in Nalgonda district.

Dr Nagi Reddy and his team spotted the grooves on the top of a quartzite slab on the hill during a five-day programme to train tour guides that was organised by the Buddhavanam project,

He said that the spot where the grooves were located was at a height of about 1,000 ft from the Krishna river bed, and 150 ft of the water level when the Nagarjunasagar reservoir is full. He said the hill was the habitat of the pastoral Neolithic people.

The grooves measured between 3 and 5 cm in diameter and 1 cm in depth. They were formed by grinding granite or dolerite sling balls used to chase away birds and animals damaging the crops.

The team also identified a few rock shelters and natural caves inhabited by the Neolithic people opposite to the site along with a large number of grooves. It revealed that the place might have been the production centre of Neolithic implements such as celts, chisels and sling balls.

Dr Nagi Reddy said that the Pavuralagutta Neolithic site was picturesque and had a panoramic view of the Nagarjunakonda valley, a chain of hills and the huge manmade Nagarjunasagar reservoir. This made it an ideal spot to develop as an archaeological and ecotourism destination.

K. Sudhan Reddy, R. Nageswara Rao, Gosangi Saidulu and local youth were the part of the team of Dr Nagi Reddy who explored the new site.