Menhirs at Jagathab, Guddapatti Mandu, near Kaveripattinam, Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu.

25^th August 2019.

The visit to these menhirs is part of the Kaveripattinam Heritage Visit. Even though the two-day visit was focused on Rock art in the natural caves around Kaveripattinam and Krishnagiri, we came across menhirs at Jagathab and Guddapatti. These menhirs  usually have Cairn circles (irregular or globe-shaped stones) around them. These menhirs are more than 2500 years old and were erected close to the prehistoric people buried. The size and height of the stone depend on the social status of the person buried.

JAGATHAB MENHIR.

This menhir is found on a lake bed (Lake may be man-made). The menhir is 10 feet high and 4 feet wide at the base and conical in shape. The Cairn circle is not found around the Menhir; perhaps it might have been disturbed.

GUDDAPATTI  MENHIRS.

There are 5 menhirs installed in a common place of the village, of which 3 are about 3 to 4 feet high. (Now they are used to tie the cattle). The Taller one is the oldest and is more than 2500 years old. This menhir is about 10 feet high, 2 feet wide, and about ¾ feet thick. The other tallest menhir was erected during the 20^th century. The Inscription on that says that it was erected for “Opulli Venkatappan 1938”. This indicates that the practice of erecting menhirs for the dead has continued in recent years, too.

   2500 years old menhir 

20th-century Menhirs

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---