In a rare find, Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department officials stumbled upon over 100 megalithic burials inside Pattarakadu reserve forest (RF) atop Jawadhu Hills in Tiruvannamalai a few days ago.
Archaeologists said that it was the first time that they conducted a spatial survey in the hills after forest officials informed them about large-shaped granite structures that had been vandalised by trespassers in the RF. They have been abandoned and scattered atop the hillock.
During exploration of the inaccessible terrain, the archaeology team found a large number of megalithic burials and neolithic tools including small hand axes. The burial sites were found in remotely inhabited tribal villages, namely Keel Cheppili and Mel Cheppili near Jamunamarathur.
