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Context:
The State of Jharkhand has initiated efforts to secure a UNESCO World Heritage Tag for its vast and unique megalithic landscapes, with the Chief Minister highlighting their significance at international platforms such as Davos and in the UK.
What are Megaliths?
Megaliths are large stone structures erected by prehistoric and early historic communities for multiple purposes, including:
- Burials and ancestor commemoration
- Ritual and ceremonial functions
- Boundary marking
- Astronomical observations (sunrise/sunset tracking)
Common forms include:
- Menhirs (standing stones)
- Dolmens (table-like burial structures)
- Burial slabs
- Cairns
- Stone circles
Region
- Ranchi–Khunti belt (Chokahatu)
- Hazaribagh region
- Chatra–Ramgarh–Gumla–Simdega
- Singhbhum (Ho areas)
Unique Features
- Living megalithic tradition — new stones still erected
- Linked with Munda, Ho, Oraon, Asur communities
- Local terms:
- Sasandiri (dolmens)
- Birdiri (menhirs)
- Some sites aligned with solstice/equinox
