Archaeologists Sound Alarm Over Telangana's Deteriorating Prehistoric Heritage
At the recent Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF), archaeologists issued a stark warning about the rapid deterioration of Telangana's prehistoric heritage. They emphasized that invaluable evidence of early human history across the Deccan plateau is slipping into neglect, with systematic conservation efforts remaining critically inadequate.
Uncovering Telangana's Deep Past
During the session titled 'Trekking Through the Historical Tracks of Telangana', archaeologist Sumanaspati Reddy revealed that the region's history predates recorded dynasties by thousands of years. "Before the rise of historic kingdoms, the Deccan underwent massive geological and cultural transformations," Reddy explained. "Telangana preserves traces of that deep past through caves, rock art, fossils, tools, and megalithic structures, yet these remain poorly understood and inadequately protected."
Reddy highlighted several significant sites that demonstrate the region's archaeological richness:
- Mylaram: Described as one of India's largest cave clusters with nearly 50 caves
- Kapilai near Adilabad: Contains evidence of early cultural activity and goddess worship
"Some caves still show traces of colour pigments, while others bear signs of copper deposits, indicating early material use by prehistoric communities," Reddy added, underscoring the scientific importance of these findings.
Geological Formations and Archaeological Evidence
Archaeologist Sriramoji Haragopal drew attention to Telangana's unique geological features, particularly columnar basalt formations found at seven locations across the state. "These formations resulted from ancient lava flows that cooled into distinctive stream-like shapes," Haragopal noted. "They provide crucial clues about the region's prehistoric landscape and environmental conditions."
The archaeological evidence extends beyond geological formations to include:
- Fossil remains such as gastropods that reinforce the antiquity of human and ecological activity
- Palaeolithic and Mesolithic tools, with Mesolithic artefacts dating back approximately 10,000 years
- Neolithic settlements that followed these earlier periods
- Megalithic structures including menhirs and burial sites, with one site extending up to 70 feet
"The presence of these megalithic structures demonstrates that these were organized societies with complex ritual practices," Haragopal emphasized, pointing to the sophistication of prehistoric communities in the region.
Urgent Conservation Concerns
Both archaeologists expressed deep concern about the lack of systematic efforts to identify, document, and conserve these prehistoric sites. Haragopal warned that "many deities and structures have been misidentified over time, erasing evidence of multiple cultures that once coexisted in this region."
The experts stressed that without immediate intervention, Telangana risks losing irreplaceable chapters of its early human history. The deterioration of these sites represents not just a local loss but a significant gap in understanding human development across the Indian subcontinent.
The warning from Hyderabad Literary Festival serves as a crucial reminder that preserving prehistoric heritage requires coordinated efforts from archaeological authorities, government agencies, and community stakeholders to prevent further loss of these invaluable historical resources.
