A stroll in the Konagal hills (about six km from Ramanagaram town) in Bangalore Rural district can take you back in time from the stone-age to the rule of chieftains in 16th and 17 century and to the present. Amidst the huge granite boulders, weathered rocks and shrub vegetation, remnants of artifacts used by the stone-age man can be found. Apart from Piklihal in north Karnataka and Rajaghatta in Doddaballapur, this is said to be the third spot that is known to have housed the stone-age man. The discovery has pushed back the date of earliest human settlements in the region to about 20,000 years.
Half way on the top of the hill (from the village which is at the base), to the right side, is the Angadimala - a five acre area where several stone implements such as hammers, axe and clivers have been discovered. In the area to the left of the Angadimala smelted metal crumbs, which is a proof that the area may have housed a smelter, have been unearthed. Some pieces can still be found if you scratch the earth surface. A metal idol was also found here which bears some resemblance to Cholan art.
All along the path from the base of the hill to the top, pieces of pottery and decorative items, bangles and coins have been found.
Excavations in the Konegal hills by Anthropologist and amateur historian M Byregowda have yielded more than 200 pieces of primitive tools used by the early humans in their day to day living. Some of the stone implements weigh up to five kg. Interestingly, these implements were found right under the first layer of the soil.
In the other two places in the State, excavation had to be carried out through several layers to find these implements.
Mr Byregowda, who came across the site about three-years ago, says: “We have found hundreds of stone implements and supportive evidences to prove that stone-age settlements existed in this area. Some of the implements were subjected to radiocarbon dating test which show that they must be 16,000 to 20,000 years old.”
There are several natural caves in the hills which could have sheltered the stone-age humans from the harsh elements of nature. Mr Byregowda points out that the hills are rich in water sources and vegetation. “I have identified a few caves surrounded by vegetation where the Palaeolithic man could have lived,” says Byregowda.
But the hills also behold other treasures. There are broken walls of a fort on the top of the hill. Chieftains who ruled the area in the 16th and 17th century apparently built the fort. In addition, there are two small ponds and a temple that was built in recent times.
Apart from being an archeological treat, the hills also harbour a wide variety of medicinal plants that are slowly vanishing due to indiscriminate extraction. A climb to the hill top is indeed a journey into the past!
Half way on the top of the hill (from the village which is at the base), to the right side, is the Angadimala - a five acre area where several stone implements such as hammers, axe and clivers have been discovered. In the area to the left of the Angadimala smelted metal crumbs, which is a proof that the area may have housed a smelter, have been unearthed. Some pieces can still be found if you scratch the earth surface. A metal idol was also found here which bears some resemblance to Cholan art.
All along the path from the base of the hill to the top, pieces of pottery and decorative items, bangles and coins have been found.
Excavations in the Konegal hills by Anthropologist and amateur historian M Byregowda have yielded more than 200 pieces of primitive tools used by the early humans in their day to day living. Some of the stone implements weigh up to five kg. Interestingly, these implements were found right under the first layer of the soil.
In the other two places in the State, excavation had to be carried out through several layers to find these implements.
Mr Byregowda, who came across the site about three-years ago, says: “We have found hundreds of stone implements and supportive evidences to prove that stone-age settlements existed in this area. Some of the implements were subjected to radiocarbon dating test which show that they must be 16,000 to 20,000 years old.”
There are several natural caves in the hills which could have sheltered the stone-age humans from the harsh elements of nature. Mr Byregowda points out that the hills are rich in water sources and vegetation. “I have identified a few caves surrounded by vegetation where the Palaeolithic man could have lived,” says Byregowda.
But the hills also behold other treasures. There are broken walls of a fort on the top of the hill. Chieftains who ruled the area in the 16th and 17th century apparently built the fort. In addition, there are two small ponds and a temple that was built in recent times.
Apart from being an archeological treat, the hills also harbour a wide variety of medicinal plants that are slowly vanishing due to indiscriminate extraction. A climb to the hill top is indeed a journey into the past!
This article appeared in Deccan Herald on 8th February, 2005.
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