Large scale Iron Age archaeological remains found at Champa 8212; Researcher

Khobragade told The Indian Express that the stone circles are typical cultural remains of Iron Age civilisation, when burials were conducted in this pattern. He said that about one km from the north of Champa village east to the Champa bus-stop, remains of about 200 such stone circles were found.

The stone circles are placed in four to five north-south facing rows. These circles are placed between two small streams Chankya Paat and Khadkya Paat flowing by the village. Evidences of similar stone circles were also noticed east of the Khadkya Paat, near a footpath going to village Mangli, Khobragade claimed.

Khobragade said that as is typical of burial spots belonging to the Iron Age dating back to more than 2500 years, each circle, 14-18 metres in diameter, is formed of huge basalt rocks placed in perfect circles. Some of the circles are filled up of small pebbles, as found in similar burial sites found in Khairagarh in Wardha district. A tapering stone is placed at the centre of each circle. The research scholar said that some of these pointed stones have been anointed with traditional sindoor by the villagers, giving them the form of stone deities, while some of them have been displaced.

Another typical aspect of the stone circles is that while all the stones are basalt, the easternmost in each circle is formed of laterite and several of these eastern stones have cup marks of three cms diameter. Khobragade said that these cups might have been used to burn oil lamps to pay tributes to the dead. He said that some of the stone circles are not filled up by smaller pebbles, although the tapering stone at the centre is present.

Khobragade said that several microlithes stone tools made of Chert and Chalcedony, typical of Iron Age, have also been recovered from the site. He also mentioned that excavations at similar sites in various parts of Vidarbha and also in Nagpur district have revealed human and animal remains, along with things of daily use and decorative pieces. The hypothesis is that the burials were made in these stone circles and things of personal use were put along with the dead. Nothing was found in some of circles, probably pointing at their symbolic nature, while in some, the human remains were found in earthern pots.

Khobragade said that the evidence of Iron Age human civilisation has been noticed at the nearby Champa village, where residents were reported to have found pieces of earthenware and even a potful of beads while digging for several purposes. He said that the excavation of the burial spot may reveal several interesting facets of iron age civilisation.