Papers by Himanshu Shekhar
A number of megalithic sites are known from the region of Panch Parganas of Ranchi and Khunti dis... more A number of megalithic sites are known from the region of Panch Parganas of Ranchi and Khunti districts of Jharkhand. The salient feature of the megalithic landscape is the continuity of tradition among the Munda people. This paper is a brief report of exploration conducted in the month of January 2016 to document megalithic sites with living tradition prevalent among the Mundas in the study area and its adjoining regions to find out variations in their typologies, locations and megalith orientations.
Megalithic monuments have been reported from different geographical regions in Jharkhand. Though ... more Megalithic monuments have been reported from different geographical regions in Jharkhand. Though their authorship is enigmatic, continuity of the living traditions among several tribal communities can help to trace the origin of these ancient monuments. This paper is based on preliminary fieldwork conducted in 2015, to document various ancient megalithic sites and living tradition prevalent among the Munda community of Ranchi and Khunti Districts, Jharkhand.
The disposal of death is one of the most ancient traditions in human past traced back right from ... more The disposal of death is one of the most ancient traditions in human past traced back right from the prehistoric times. By the time, with the idea of ancestor worship it has been transformed into more sophisticated burial custom and man began to erect monuments as memorials. Megalithic phase in India is largely associated with Early Iron Age shows distinct variety of burial traditions and rituals associated with them. In India, the heritage of Megalithic burials lies in its living traditions followed by the present tribal and ethnic communities in various parts of the country. In Jharkhand, many tribal communities are still practices Megalithism. This particular paper is concerned with the Megalithic tradition followed by the Munda community of Jharkhand. The present work is a case study of the Living Megalithic Traditions among the Munda community of a particular village in Ranchi District of Jharkhand, lies in Chotanagpur Plateau. It is a little attempt to study the burial practices of the community in comparison to their ancestral society, the other Munda communities in the region as well as other contemporary tribal groups within a region.
This paper is about a painted rock shelter from Banpur in North Karnapura rift valley, Jharkhand,... more This paper is about a painted rock shelter from Banpur in North Karnapura rift valley, Jharkhand, explored in 2013 by the present author. The rock shelter of Banpur belongs to the clusters of rock art sites, within Satpahar mountain range in Chatra district. This paper presents the theme, style, and state of preservation of the rock art at the site. It is in the vicinity of other famous rock art sites like Satpahar, Thetangi, Saraiya and Kandhar, Sidpa, Gonda, Raham, etc. The rock shelter of Banpur has two panels with zoomorphic, Anthropomorphic and Geometric figures depicted in red ochre, yellow ochre white and black pigments. The superimposition can be easily identified and can be helpful in interpreting the chronology.
The disposal of death is one of the most ancient traditions in human past traced back right from ... more The disposal of death is one of the most ancient traditions in human past traced back right from the prehistoric times. By the time, with the idea of ancestor worship it has been transformed into more sophisticated burial custom and man began to erect monuments as memorials. Megalithic phase in India is largely associated with Early Iron Age shows distinct variety of burial traditions and rituals associated with them. In India, the heritage of Megalithic burials lies in its living traditions followed by the present tribal and ethnic communities in various parts of the country. In Jharkhand, many tribal communities are still practices Megalithism. This particular paper is concerned with the Megalithic tradition followed by the Munda community of Jharkhand. The present work is a case study of the Living Megalithic Traditions among the Munda community of a particular village in Ranchi District of Jharkhand, lies in Chotanagpur Plateau. It is a little attempt to study the burial practices of the community in comparison to their ancestral society, the other Munda communities in the region as well as other contemporary tribal groups within a region.
This paper is about a painted rock shelter from Banpur in North Karnapura rift valley, Jharkhand,... more This paper is about a painted rock shelter from Banpur in North Karnapura rift valley, Jharkhand, explored in 2013 by the present author. The rock shelter of Banpur belongs to the clusters of rock art sites, within Satpahar mountain range in Chatra district. This paper presents the theme, style, and state of preservation of the rock art at the site. It is in the vicinity of other famous rock art sites like Satpahar, Thetangi, Saraiya and Kandhar, Sidpa, Gonda, Raham, etc. The rock shelter of Banpur has two panels with zoomorphic, Anthropomorphic and Geometric figures depicted in red ochre, yellow ochre white and black pigments. The superimposition can be easily identified and can be helpful in interpreting the chronology.
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Papers by Himanshu Shekhar