Telangana invites tenders to excavate megalithic Menhirs of Mudumal where ancient stones align with Sun
The Telangana Department of Heritage has invited tenders for the excavation of the Mudumal megalithic site, which features ancient stones aligned with celestial bodies. The site is being considered for UNESCO recognition due to its potential as an ancient astronomical observatory.
Why it matters
The site offers rare insights into how ancient civilizations tracked celestial phenomena, contributing to the global understanding of prehistoric science and culture.
What did people living 3,500 to 4,000 years ago know about the night sky? At Mudumal in Telangana’s Narayanpet district, upright stones, megalithic burial circles and rock carvings depicting constellations offer clues to how ancient communities observed the heavens. The Telangana Department of Heritage has now invited tenders for excavation at the site, with an estimated contract value of ₹39.97 lakh and a completion period of four months.
The Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs site, located about four km south-west of Mudumal village near the Krishna River, is spread across approximately 80 acres of gently undulating terrain. In its submission to UNESCO’s Tentative List, dated February 11, 2025, India described the site as a significant archaeological landscape containing standing stones, stone circles associated with megalithic burials and rocks bearing markings interpreted as representations of celestial bodies and constellations.
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