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ANTIQUITIES OF GODAVARI AND KRISHNA DISTRICTS. 305
OCTOBER, 1875.]
compare with marks that may be found in Ceylon, Siam, Kambodia, and Java. Should any be discovered in remoter China and Japan, the interest would be increased: for though the sub
NOTES ON THE ANTIQUITIES FOUND IN PARTS OF THE UPPER GODAVARI AND KRISHNA DISTRICTS.
(From the Proceedings of the Madras Government, Public Department, 11th Feb. 1875.)
These antiquities consist of the cairns and tombs of Dravidians or earlier Skythians, of Skythian tombs of the later period, ruins of Buddhist and Hindu temples, and stone crosses of the early Christian period.
1. In the Upper Godavari, British side, and Krishna Districts south of Jagiâpețâ, Dravidian or earlier Skythian tombs and cairns are found in groups, particularly in the Krishnâ District, where there are hundreds on one hill alone. The cairns are constructed of four stone slabs on edge, and slab at bottom and one on top; then round the tomb a ring of small stones some twelve feet in diameter, and small stones, within that, heaped over the grave. The grave is sunk from two to four feet in the ground, according to the breadth of the side slabs. The sizes of the graves are from one foot six inches long by one foot broad to six feet long by two feet broad. In the Krishna District the slabs are limestone; in the Upper Godavari, trap, metamorphic rock, and sandstone. I have opened several of these graves and found a skeleton. The body had been laid on the right side, head resting on right arm-head always north, feet south. The bones were invariably so damaged that they crumbled almost at a touch. The upper slabs on the tombs vary in size. I have found them from four feet by three feet to eight feet by six feet; some of the smaller tombs have no slabs on them on top, but only small stones piled up as a cairn. (See Fig. 1.) In none of the graves have I found any ornaments, beads, or pottery.
I think that these graves must be between 3,000 and 4,000 years old.*
ject is probably more curious than important, it might point to some useful conclusions, and throw perhaps a ray of light on the early history of architecture.
2. Skythian Tombs.-These I have only seen in the Upper Godâvari; they are tombs without cairns. These tombs have no slabs at bottom, only four forming the sides; they are generally four feet by three feet, some with immense slabs on top. I have measured them fourteen feet
No dependence can be placed on the conclusions mentioned in this paper respecting the ages of the re
by five feet; they lay irrespective of compass bearing. The graves are filled up with small earthen pots filled with burnt bones and clay. I have found beads apparently made of ivory, and some small glass ones of red and green colour, in the pot that contains the charred remains of the skull. (Fig. 2.)
There is a splendid tomb made of sandstone on the Nizam's side of the river opposite Lingala ; the slab on top is nine feet square; the tomb surrounded with eight rings of stone (sunk in the ground) some seven feet in diameter, and is evidently a chief's grave. I had no opportunity to open and examine it; but another grave, with smaller slabs and fewer rings round it, I opened. In the tomb there were the usual pots with bones and beads; the rings contain a skeleton with feet in towards the tomb, the skull placed between the knees. These were the skeletons of slaves that had been sacrificed on the death of a chief, number according to rank. Herodotus describes this ceremony. These two different tombs alluded to in the foregoing are indiscriminately called by the natives rakshasigulli, tombs of the giants;' this is a misnomer. None of the skeletons I have met with exceed in size those of the present day; and the unburnt bones in the other tombs, pieces of ribs, arm-bones and pieces of the skull, are just the usual size.
The graves with the charred bones of the dead probably belong to the Northern race of Skythians, who may have learned the custom of cremation during the Grecian invasion in their country 325 years B.C., and brought this custom south in their wars. The upright stones in connection with demon-worship I have only found in the Krishna District (see Figs. 3, 4). The Kolhs and Gonds put up wooden posts for the same rite.
3. Ruins of Hindu temples of the earlier mains; and the name Skythian is, to say the least, unsatis factory.-ED.
