Bioanthropological Analysis of Cremated Human Remains from the Megalithic site of Obra, Jharkhand, India

Ishita Sadhukhan1*, Veena Mushrif Tripathy1, Rajendra Deuri2, and Azhar Sabir2.

1Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India; 2Archaeological Survey of India, New Dehli, India; *esshitaasadukhan@gmail.com

This paper focuses on the death and burial rituals recorded and interpreted on the cremated human remains recorded from the Megalithic site Obra, District Chatra, Jharkhand. The site was excavated in 2020 by the Archaeological Survey of India, Bihar circle, under the directorship of Dr. Dehuri. Of the three known localities at Obra, locality IA with its 21 menhirs was chosen for archaeological investigation. The excavations produced 47 burial pots. For this study a sample of 14 individuals were studied (one individual per pot). Absolute dating has not been undertaken yet for this site, but relative dating suggests the site can be placed between the megalithic to early historic periods. Data were collected from archives, ethnographic surveys, journals, interviews, lab work and published reports to support this research. This paper will discuss the cultural and socio-economic conditions of the people living in this region through the analysis of the cremated human skeletal remains.