Figure 1
Spatial distribution of 41 megalithic cemetery sites and 13 habitation sites in the Adwa River Valley, Vindhyan Plateau, India (Blank areas: no remains recorded; see Survey coverage and interpretation of gaps).
Figure 2
Spatial distribution and clustering of 493 megalithic burial monuments documented from 41 cemetery sites in the Adwa River Valley (Blank areas: no remains recorded; see Survey coverage and interpretation of gaps).
Table 1
Comparison of megalithic monuments documented during the Allahabad University survey (1980s) and the present field survey (2021–2026), showing the percentage decline in monument numbers.
| S. NO. | SITE NAME | MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS RECORDED (ALLAHABAD UNIVERSITY SURVEY, 1980s) | MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS RECORDED (PRESENT SURVEY, 2021–2026) | DECREASE IN MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bahera Dabar | 41 | 30 | 26.83 |
| 2 | Adaipura | 20 | 13 | 35 |
| 3 | Harrai | 60 | 30 | 50 |
| 4 | Sardman | 30 | 6 | 80 |
| 5 | Hardi | 100 | 20 | 80 |
| 6 | Piparahi | 20 | 6 | 70 |
| 7 | Jogibir | 90 | 57 | 36.67 |
| 8 | Biradei | 100 | 8 | 92 |
| 9 | Nakwar | 92 | 36 | 60.87 |
| 10 | Barchhihawa | NA | 7 | NA |
| 11 | Teldah | 50 | 1 | 98 |
| 12 | Mahadewa | 100 | 10 | 90 |
| 13 | Thengarahi | 12 | 5 | 58.33 |
| 14 | Dhenkua | 20 | 3 | 85 |
| 15 | Amahata | 150 | 80 | 46.67 |
| 16 | Nebuhi | NA | 22 | NA |
| 17 | Munhai | 50 | 1 | 98 |
| 18 | Dhanuhi | 24 | 2 | 91.67 |
| 19 | Patharaha | 50 | 10 | 80 |
| 20 | Bagheli Tola | 20 | 2 | 90 |
| 21 | Bhortian | 60 | 1 | 98.33 |
| 22 | Kalandara | 100 | 12 | 88 |
| 23 | Jarbaila | 100 | 10 | 90 |
| 24 | Dihawa | 50 | 0 | 100 |
| 25 | Ghaghawa | 150 | 35 | 76.67 |
| Total | 1469 | 410 | 72.1% |
[i] (NA = The earlier survey mentioned the cemetery but provided no monument count; these sites are excluded from the totals and the percentage decline).
Table 2
Archaeological characteristics of the documented habitation sites in the Adwa River Valley.
| SITE | PREVIOUSLY REPORTED | GEOMORPHOLOGICAL SETTING | ASSOCIATED WATER CHANNEL | MOUND EXTENT | MATERIAL REMAINS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaipura | Yes | Alluvial zone | 200 m south of Adwa River; 100 m east of Hadahadah Nala | 1.49 ha | red ware; thick sturdy grey ware; black ware; stone discs; microlithic blades; fluted cores |
| Harrai-1 | Yes | Flat-topped surface of Kaimur Hill Range | 160 m west of Baghaudi Nala | 3.26 ha | red ware; grey ware; black ware; lithic fragments; debitage; iron slag; bangles |
| Harrai-2 | Yes | Flat-topped surface of Kaimur Hill Range | 190 m west of Hathijhul Nala | 2.94 ha | red ware; grey ware; black ware; iron slag; bangles |
| Hardi | Yes | Northern slope of Kaimur Hill Range | 50 m west of Chakdahi Nala | 0.48 ha | red ware; thick sturdy grey ware |
| Piparahi | No | Alluvial zone | 150 m south of Adwa River and 200 m west of Markahawa Nala | 0.89 ha | red ware; black ware; black-slipped ware; black-and-red ware; thick sturdy grey ware; iron slag |
| Biradei | Yes | Alluvial zone | 200 m west of Bhagodari Nala | 0.41 ha | red ware; black ware; grey ware; microliths; glass bangles; iron slag |
| Nakwar | Yes | Alluvial zone | Immediately east of Kulli Nala | 1.5 ha | crude red ware; thick grey ware; ill-fired red ware; microliths; animal bones |
| Amahata | Yes | Alluvial zone | 200 m north-east of Adwa River | 1.15 ha | red ware; black ware; black-slipped ware; grey ware; lithic fragments; iron slag |
| Munhai | Yes | Southern slope of Rewa Hill Range | 500 m north of Adwa River | 0.52 ha | red ware; black ware; black-slipped ware; black-and-red ware; thick grey ware |
| Magha | Yes | Alluvial zone | 70 m west of Chhuhia Nala | 0.90 ha | crude red ware; black-and-red ware; black-slipped ware; microliths |
| Jarbaila | Yes | Alluvial zone | 300 m west of Samarmara Nala | 1.28 ha | red ware; thick sturdy grey ware; iron slag |
| Panti-1 | No | Plateau surface of Rewa Hill Range | 500 m south of Amajhor River | 0.69 ha | red ware; thick sturdy grey ware; iron slag |
| Panti-2 | No | Plateau surface of Rewa Hill Range | 300 m west of Amadari | 0.23 ha | thick sturdy grey ware; red ware; iron slag |