Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs

Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs: The menhirs in Telangana’s Narayanpet district will soon be the second UNESCO World Heritage Site in the state.

• It was one of six Indian sites added to the tentative list by the World Heritage Centre in 2025.
• About Menhirs: A standing or upright stone, usually tapered at the top, man-made, sculpted, and placed by humans.
• The largest surviving menhir, the Grand Menhir Brisé in Brittany, France, once stood at 20.6 m tall.

• Etymology: Derived from Brittonic words — “maen” meaning “stone” and “hîr” meaning “long”. Entered the archaeological lexicon in the late 18th century, first used by French military officer and Celticist antiquarian Théophile Corret de la Tour d’Auvergne.
• European menhirs: Associated with the Beaker culture (Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age), roughly 4,800 to 3,800 BP; oldest dated to 7,000 BP.
• Mudumal menhirs: Dated to roughly 3,500 to 4,000 BP — oldest known menhirs in India.

o Found either alone or as part of a larger complex of megaliths. Likely served ceremonial functions — markers of graves or for astronomical purposes.

• Astronomical Significance: Described as a “megalithic astronomical observatory” by the UNESCO dossier.

o Some menhirs align with the rising and setting sun during the summer and winter solstices, suggesting use as an ancient observatory.

• Cultural Significance: Closely associated with local legend — one menhir is worshipped as Goddess Yellamma.
• UNESCO Recognition: Reflects the ingenuity of early humans in sculpting and transporting tonnes-heavy stones with precision.

o Provides insight into cultural beliefs and astronomical knowledge of societies with no written records.