The term megaliths originally used by antiquarians to describe a faith, easily definable class of
monuments in Western & Northern Europe, consisting of huge undressed stones and termed as
celtic dolmens, cromlechs and menhirs. The term ‘megalith’ is derived from two Greek words i.e.
megathos meaning ‘huge’; lithoi meaning ‘stone’. It is generally considered as a grave or memorial
stone whether dressed or in its natural form containing, enclosing are erected over the funerary
assemblage. The megalithic culture has no regional bounds. As its cultural remnants are found in
Europe, Africa and Asia. The Indian peninsula is more prolific in this culture; in northern India this
culture is sporadic in occurrence in comparison with South India.

Birth and death are two important events in human life. But there is a belief on life after
death. As a social animal, the relation with the fellow men, death plays an important role. The
tradition, disposal of dead body, beginning with the pit and urn burials of the Neolithic-Chalcolithic
times, there occurred various changes in the mode of disposal. In course of time these changes
culminated in the development of a peculiar way of disposal by the time of Iron Age, which is widely
known as megalithic culture. In Andhra Pradesh 33 megalithc burial sites were excavated so far.