Ancient Telangana History - Part 2 Notes (Revised)

తెలంగాణ చరిత్ర: ప్రాచీన చరిత్ర (Archaeological Researchers & Periods)

Lecture by: Koppu Naresh (Subject Expert, T-SAT)

Recap & Introduction to Researchers

• Previous video discussed Ancient Telangana history introduction and the origin of the name "Telangana".
• This section focuses on Archaeological Researchers (పురావస్తు శాస్త్రవేత్తలు) who conducted excavations (తవ్వకాలు) in Telangana.
• Exam questions often arise based on these researchers and their findings.

Key Archaeological Researchers in Telangana

• Robert Bruce Foote:
  • Considered a Geologist (భూగర్భ శాస్త్రవేత్త).
  • Conducted extensive research in Telangana.
  • Discovered Megalithic burials (బృహత్ శిలాయుగ సమాధులు/అవశేషాలు) in Valigonda (Yadadri Bhuvanagiri Dist) around the mid-19th Century.
  • Laid the foundation (పునాది వేశారు) for prehistoric studies in the region.
• Meadows Taylor:
  • Researched Megalithic Age (బృహత్ శిలాయుగ) remains.
  • Key site: Narkatpalli (Nalgonda Dist).
  • Megalithic Age is equated with the Iron Age (ఇనుప యుగం), around 1000 BCE.
  • Iron (ఇనుము) was the last metal used by humans.
  • Iron Age burial practices: Gave importance to constructing tombs (సమాధుల నిర్మాణం), placing food, belongings, and tools inside.
• William King & Wake Field:
  • Conducted research in Khammam and Warangal districts.
  • Helped bring ancient history to light.
• Doria Bell & Walker:
  • Researched at Hasmathpet (Hyderabad Dist).
• Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf:
  • Appointed by Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan to study tribal issues (తెగల గురించి అధ్యయనం).
  • Authored the book "Tribal Hyderabad", detailing tribal life, issues, lifestyle, etc.
  • Conducted research in Adilabad district.
  • Discovered remains of the Paleolithic Age (ప్రాచీన శిలాయుగ అవశేషాలు).
• F.R.V. Allchin & P. Srinivas:
  • Excavated at Utnoor (ఉట్నూరు) / Uttanur (ఉత్తనూరు). (Located in Jogulamba Gadwal Dist, Aija Mandal)
  • Found Ash Mounds (`బూడిద బాడులు`).
  • Associated with the Neolithic Age (`నవీన శిలాయుగం`). (Ash mounds resulted from burning cattle dung.)
  • Initially researched in Raichur (Karnataka), then came to Utnoor.
• Coggin Brown: (Likely transcription of 'Kagglis Brown' mentioned)
  • Researched in the Bhadrachalam area (Bhadradri Kothagudem Dist).
  • Found 35 types of Paleolithic tools (ప్రాచీన శిలాయుగ పనిముట్లు) within a small 50-yard area.
• V.V. Krishna Sastry:
  • Excavated at Kolhapur (Nagarkurnool Dist).
  • A significant Telangana native archaeologist, served as Director of the Dept. of Archaeology.
  • Also excavated at Keesaragutta (finding Vishnukundina capital evidence) and Dhulikatta (Satavahana Buddhist stupa).
• B.R. Subrahmanyam:
  • Excavated at Nagarjunakonda and Yeleswaram.
  • Found remains from the Prehistoric Age (పూర్వయుగం) up to the Historic Age.
  • Nagarjunakonda & Yeleswaram show continuous human settlement from Paleolithic to Historic periods (పాతరాతి యుగ తొలిదశ నుంచి చారిత్రక యుగం వరకు అవిచ్ఛిన్నంగా కొనసాగింది).
  • This civilization continued even after the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization (సింధూ నాగరికత పతనం తర్వాత కూడా కొనసాగింది).
• Professor Yazdani:
  • Conducted research near Raigiri Railway Station (Nalgonda Dist).
• S.S. Rao:
  • In 1966, researched Stone Age remains in the Musi River Valley (Nalgonda Dist).

Division of Historical Periods (చారిత్రక పూర్వయుగ విభజన)

• Based on the quality (నాణ్యత) of hand tools (చేతి పనిముట్లు), historians divided South Indian history (relevant to Telangana prehistory):
1. Prachina Shila Yugam (ప్రాచీన శిలాయుగం) - Paleolithic / Old Stone Age
2. Madhya Shila Yugam (మధ్య శిలాయుగం) - Mesolithic / Middle Stone Age
3. Naveena Shila Yugam (నవీన శిలాయుగం) - Neolithic / New Stone Age
4. Kanchu Yugam (కంచు యుగం) - Bronze Age (Often part of Chalcolithic/overlaps)
5. Inupa Yugam (ఇనుప యుగం) / Ayō Yugam (అయో యుగం) - Iron Age
   • Also called Brihat Shila Yugam (బృహత్ శిలాయుగం) - Megalithic Age
   • Also known as Brihat Samādhula Sanskr̥ti (బృహత్ సమాధుల సంస్కృతి) - Megalithic Tomb Culture
   • Also called Rākṣasa Guḷḷa Yugam (రాక్షస గుళ్ల యుగం) - Age of Demon Tombs (Local term)

Paleolithic Age (ప్రాచీన శిలాయుగము)

• Early humans (ఆనాటి మానవుడు) used chipped stones (రాళ్లను చీల్చి) to make tools like stone axes (రాతి గొడ్డళ్లు).
• Materials used: Quartzite (స్పటికము), Corundum (కురువిందం), and other stones.
• Tools made: Knives (కత్తులు), Spears/Javelins (బొరిగెలు), Sickles/Choppers (కొడవళ్లు), Arrows (బాణాలు).
• Lifestyle: Lived by hunting animals (జంతువులను వేటాడి) and fishing (చేపలను వేటాడి).
• First food consumed by humans: Animal flesh (జంతు మాంసము), Fish (చేపలు).

Paleolithic Sites Found in Telangana

• Asifabad, Basara, Both, Godavari Valley
• Haliya, Yeleswaram
• Dindi, Vijaaraabaadu (Vikarabad?)
• Budagundaala, Chandragupta Patnam, Mankal
• Kudali Sangameswaram, Godavarikhani, Ramagundam, Peddapalli
• Palvancha, Cherla, Pokkela (Pakhal?) and other areas.

Mesolithic Age (మధ్య శిలాయుగము)

• Period: c. 50,000 - 25,000 BCE (Approximate timeframe mentioned for Telangana).
• Also called Sūkṣmarāti Yugam (సూక్ష్మరాతి యుగం) - Microlithic Age.
• Reason: Tools used were very small (చాలా చిన్నవి), ranging from 1 cm to 8 cm.
• Materials: Flint (చెక్ ముకి రాయి), Quartzite (స్పటికం), Corundum (కురువిందం) and other precious stones.
• Tools made: Small tools (చిన్న పనిముట్లు) like knives (కత్తులు), spears (బొరిగెలు), scrapers (గీకుడు రాళ్లు), arrows (బాణములు).
• Bows and arrows (`విల్లంబులు`) were used. Arrowheads (`బాణపు మొనలు`) first appeared in this age.

Mesolithic Sites Found in Telangana

• Adilabad Dist: Both
• Komaram Bheem Asifabad Dist: Asifabad
• Karimnagar Dist: Alabaka
• Nalgonda Dist: Yeleswaram, Meenanpalli (?), Rayavaram

Later Prehistoric Developments

• End of Mesolithic Age: Evidence of making pots by hand (చేతితో కుండలు తయారు చేసుకున్న జాడలు).
• Practice of burying the dead (`మృత దేహాలను భూస్థాపితం చేసే ఆచారం`) also began. (Focus on health/hygiene - preventing decomposition smell and related issues).

Neolithic Age (నవీన శిలాయుగము)

• Period: c. 25,000 - 5,000 BCE (Approximate timeframe mentioned for Telangana).
• Key Developments:
  • Settled life (`స్థిర నివాసము`) established.
  • Agriculture (`వ్యవసాయం`) started. Reason: Need to stay near crops for protection from animals and regular watering.
  • Animal Husbandry (`పశుపోషణ`) practiced (Cow, Ox, Goat, Sheep, Dog etc.).
  • Pottery making (`కుండలు తయారు చేయడం`) learned, both by hand and using the potter's wheel (చక్రం).
• Worship:
  • Worship of Natural Forces (`ప్రకృతి శక్తులను పూజించడం`) began.
  • Linga Puja (`లింగపూజ`) and Pashupati (`పశుపతి`) worship practiced.
  • Mother Goddess (`శ్రీ శక్తి పూజ`) worship also started in this period.
• Burials:
  • Evidence of burial jars (`శవాలు గల జాడీలు`) and various tombs found in Nagarjunakonda and Yeleswaram.

Neolithic Sites Found in Telangana

• Jogulamba Gadwal Dist: Utnoor (Uttanur) (in Aija mandal)
• Nalgonda Dist: Yeleswaram
• Bhuvanagiri Dist: Bhuvanagiri
• Peddapalli Dist: Devarapalli, Kolakonda, Peddabankur, Palakonda, Kadambapur
• Siddipet Dist: Budigapalli
• Hyderabad Dist: Golconda, Moula Ali

Neolithic Tools & Crops

• Tools: Axe (గొడ్డలి), double-edged knife/chisel (రెండు వైపుల పదునున్న ఉలి), hammer (సుత్తి), spear (బొరిగె), ploughshare (నాగటి కర్రు).
• The ploughshare (నాగటి కర్రు) was used to plough the land (భూమిని దున్నారు).
• Ploughshares (ఇట్టి కర్రులు) were found in the Nagarjunakonda valley.
• Crops Cultivated: Evidence suggests cultivation of Ragi (`రాగులు`), Pesalu (`పెసలు`), Uluvalu (`ఉలవలు`) during this age.

Chalcolithic / Bronze Age (తామ్ర - కంచు యుగం)

• Period: c. 5,000 - 2,000 BCE (Approximate timeframe mentioned for Telangana).
• Usage of Metals (`లోహాలు`) began.
• First metal used by humans: Copper (`రాగి లోహం`).
• Bronze (కంచు) is made by mixing Copper (రాగి) and Tin (తగరం).

Iron Age (ఇనుప యుగం)

• Primitive man discovered Iron (`ఇనుము`) and used it for livelihood needs.
• Iron tools were used for Agriculture (`వ్యవసాయానికి`).
• Led to the development of the Iron Industry (`ఇనుప పరిశ్రమ`).
• Special furnaces (ప్రత్యేక బట్టీలు) were built to melt iron.
• Iron Age Names: Also called Ayō Yugam, Brihat Shila Yugam, Brihat Samādhula Sanskr̥ti, Rākṣasa Guḷḷa Yugam.
• Burials: Large tombs (రాక్షస గుళ్లు) were constructed for the dead during this period. (Called Rakshasa Gullu because they were huge and imposing, attributed to demons by later people).
• This age is studied mainly through these megalithic burials.

Types of Megalithic Burials (రాక్షస గుళ్లు)

• Four types of megalithic burials found:
  1. Menhir (`మెన్ హిర్`): A large stone pillar erected in memory of the deceased. (Found in Valigonda, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri Dist).
  2. Cist (`చిస్ట్`): A stone coffin where the body is placed, put into a pit, and surrounded by stone circles. (Found across Telangana, except Adilabad Dist).
  3. Dolmen (`డాల్మన్`): A stone coffin placed *on* the ground surface (not buried in a pit), and surrounded by stone circles.
  4. Sarcophagus (`సార్కోఫాగస్`) / Terracotta Coffin (`మట్టి శవపేటిక`): A clay coffin, sometimes shaped like an elephant. (Found in Yeleswaram, Nalgonda Dist).
• Special Find: At Nagarjunakonda, a tomb contained the remains of a woman with a man laid upon her. This type of burial is unique in the world.

Iron Age Sites in Telangana

• Nalgonda Dist: Yeleswaram, Nagarjunakonda, Narkatpalli, Devarakonda
• Hyderabad Dist: Balanagar, Begumpet
• Nizamabad Dist: Dornakal
• Other sites mentioned previously also contain Iron Age evidence.

Discoveries at Key Sites (Continued)

• Peddabankur (Peddapalli Dist, on Husenimiya Vagu):
  • Satavahana period: Three brick forts (మూడు ఇటుక కోటలు) found.
  • 22 brick wells (22 చేదబావులు) found.
  • Iron tools: Axes, nails, knives, sickles, chisels, beads, bangles, terracotta figurines discovered.
  • Coins: Satavahana coins and Vidanka coins (punch-marked coins from Mauryan period) found.
  • Roman Coins: Coins of Roman Emperors Augustus Caesar and Tiberius found.
• Dhulikatta (Peddapalli Dist, on Husenimiya Vagu):
  • Satavahana period Buddhist Stupa discovered by V.V. Krishna Sastry.
  • Stupa surrounded by stone slabs with Brahmi script inscriptions.
  • Dhulikota (mud fort) is also pronounced as Dhulikatta.
  • Inside the fort: Royal palaces, wells, granaries, iron weapons, terracotta figures, elephant tusk combs, clay pots found.
  • Coins: Mauryan period Vidanka coins found.

Conclusion

• This covers the Prehistoric, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Iron Ages in Telangana, highlighting key researchers, sites, tools, practices, and findings.