Concept of Megalithism in the 21 st Century Archaeology of India

Abstract

Megalithism is a death phenomenon, which starts from Neolithic period onwards and continues up to the historical period through the Bronze Age. It spreads widely almost all the parts during the Neolithic period. In Japan it continues up to the middle of the seventh century A.D. until the then Emperor Kotoku prohibited it. Such cultural element is not being seen, as living tradition in other parts of the world. In North East India, particularly in Manipur, it is practised as a living tradition till date by some non-Christian tribes. The Liangmai tribe is one of the indigenous and larger tribes of this state, who still continued this tradition with some modification. In this paper the author would like to document the present concept of megalithic tradition in the north easternmost part of India as far as the material allows. The main objective is to make an interpretative visualization before it dies out in course of time.