Megalithic Burials and Living Memorial Traditions of the Tribes of Central India

Virag Gopal Sontakke

Megalithic burials mark death rituals, rites, and collective memory among tribes in Central India, especially in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and the highlands of Maharashtra's Vidarbha. Ancient structures such as menhirs, stone circles, dolmens, cairns, and capstones, built during the Iron Age, continue to influence memorial traditions among groups such as the Gond, Mundas, Baiga, Bhil, Kol, Panika, and Korku. Archaeological sites in Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Bastar, and Jharkhand reveal diverse megalithic burial forms, including menhirs, dolmens, capstones, stone circles, and cairns. Modern tribal communities also buried and erected memorial stones along rivers and on hills, indicating a landscape shaped by animistic beliefs in which stones act as intermediaries between humans and spirits. Ethnoarchaeological research suggests that tribes maintain a living megalithic tradition, akin to ancient practices. Burying the dead is common among central Indian tribes such as the Madia Gond, Mundas and Ho, who erect menhirs and dolmens to honour the deceased. These memorials, built through communal efforts and feasts, reflect ancient traditions. Mortuary rites included complex rites and offerings at memorial stones, perhaps a continuation of ancient megalithic traditions. Modern issues such as urbanisation, mining, and dams threaten these practices. This paper underscores the significance of living megalithic traditions, rituals, beliefs, and heritage among these tribes and tries to link them to ancient Megalithic culture.