Kodumanal, a megalithic site

A megalith is a large prehistoric stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones.
Megaliths were constructed either as burial (sepulchral) sites or commemorative (non-sepulchral) memorials.
The sepulchral sites include dolmenoid cists (box-shaped stone burial chambers), cairn circles (stone circles with defined peripheries) and capstones (distinctive mushroom-shaped burial chambers found mainly in Kerala).

The urn or the sarcophagus containing the mortal remains was usually made of terracotta.
Non-sepulchral megaliths include memorial sites such as menhirs (single upright stone).

The tradition of constructing or raising huge stones on different functions is termed as megalithic culture.
The megalithic monuments of peninsular India are believed to have been erected in the Iron Age (1500BC – 200AD).
Megaliths are spread across the Indian subcontinent, though the bulk of them are found in peninsular India, concentrated in the states of Maharashtra (mainly in Vidarbha), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

In concordance with their belief in life after death, the megalithic people were in the habit of interring burial goods along with mortal remains.
The Megalith people, besides using Black-and-Red Ware type of pottery and iron tools and weapons, also used gold, silver, copper indicating that the Megalithic artisans were proficient in working out these metals as well.
Megalithic culture finds several references in ancient Tamil Sangam literature. For instance, menhirs are referred to as nadukal.
The prominent Megalithic sites are Adichanallur and Paiyampalli (Tamil Nadu); Porkalam in Kerala; Nagarjunkonda and Yelleswaram in Andhra Pradesh; Naikund, Mahurjhari, Khapa, Talaghat in Maharashtra; Allahabad-Mirzapur-Varanasi region of Uttar Pradesh, Burzahom in Kashmir etc.
In Assam and Meghalaya, the Megaliths constitute a part of tradition still living among the natives.

The recent Kodumanal (Erode district, Tamilnadu) excavation threw light on burial rituals and the concept of afterlife in megalithic culture.

A total of 250 cairn-circles has been identified at the site.
Earlier excavations revealed that the site served as a trade-cum-industrial centre from 5th century BCE to 1st century BCE.
Previous excavations have revealed that multi-ethnic groups lived at the village, located about 500 metres away from the Noyyal river.
The findings unearthed so far include an animal skull, possibly of a wolf or a dog; precious stones like beryl, carnelian, quartz, jasper, beads, gold pieces and needles; copper smelting units; the mud walls of a workshop; potteries; and Tamil Brahmi script.

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