Ancient tomb found dying of disregard

Keri: The remnants of a megalithic dolmen lying in proximity of the sacred grove of Brahmanichi Maya were discovered by an archaeology professor at Nagvem in the Sattari taluka, on Saturday.

A dolmen is essentially a megalithic structure formed by a large horizontal stone slab resting on two or more upright slabs and forming a U-shaped entrance known as a port hole. Discovered in many parts of the world, it was mostly used as a tomb in ancient times.

T Murugeshi, the professor and researcher who chanced upon this dolmen, said he found it lying in a neglected condition while he was studying the unique stone sculpture of the mother goddess standing in a country canoe with a flagpost bearing the image of a monkey at the Brahmanichi Maya sacred grove.

“The remnants of a megalithic dolmen are lying on a slope next to the sacred grove and have clearly been neglected,” Murugeshi told TOI. “I also found a piece or red pottery and upright megaliths that probably earlier supported a horizontal capstone to form a single-chamber tomb.”

The village of Nagvem, which is 3km away from Valpoi town, was uninhabited according to the census records of 1970. Residents of nearby villages said that during the hoary past, only primitive communities settled there. It was only after 1970 that migrants began settling in the area.

Interestingly, a boulder in the seasonal stream meandering near the Mauxi rock carvings site displays a trident which archaeologists identified as being associated with a megalithic culture that existed in the area. The present site of the dolmen at Nagvem is not very far from the Mauxi rock carvings site.

Residents of Nagvem, however, rue that their village’s archaeological heritage is on the verge of extinction. “This structure (megalithic dolmen), for example, was destroyed by treasure hunters,” Biro Kale, a youth, said.

Nagvem is also home to ancient sculptures of Gajalaxmi and Kapaleshwar. Brahmani, which showcases two hooded cobras on either side, is considered as the presiding deity.