‘Remove encroachments from megalithic site’

VELLORE: A Vellore-based heritage enthusiast who recently discovered a megalithic site (dolmen), at least 3,000 years old, near Thorapadi, has urged the archaeology department to evict encroachments from the site.
C Tamilvanan, 45, said the site has been encroached upon by a few locals. He also urged for the department for conducting a detailed study on the site.Tamilvanan, who is also the secretary of Numismatic & Philatelic Association of Vellore fort, had recently discovered the megalithic site.
Speaking to TOI, Tamilvanan said, “A dolmen is a megalithic structure formed from a large horizontal stone slab resting on two or more upright slabs. Dolmen which are believed existing from stone age were functioned as burial chambers and ancient cult worshiping sites.
“Informed by residents, we went to the site at Parai Medu, about 1km from Allapuram residential area in Thoraipadi,” he said. “Villagers use the dolmen for drying firewood. A middle-aged disabled man has been residing inside the structure for more than two decades,” he added.
Tamilvanan who urged the archaeological department to remove the encroachments before the petroglyphs engraved inside the dolmen were damaged, had urged the officials to put up fence and declare the site as a tourist spot after a detailed study.
ASI sources said to conduct a study at the site, a proposal should be sent through the revenue department either by a VAO or a tahsildar to our head office in Chennai.