Brahmagiri
Brahmagiri Chitradurga · Brahmagiri Isila · Andhra–Maurya Hill
South Indian Neolithic (2500–1000 BCE) → Megalithic Iron (1000–300) → Mauryan (260 BCE) → Satavahana·Southern Neolithic → Megalithic → Mauryan (Ashoka)·🇮🇳 Karnataka, Chitradurga District, Molakalmuru Taluk, Brahmagiri granite hill (180 m outcrop) 4 km SE of Siddapur near Nagasamudra, India
About
About Brahmagiri
Southern Deccan Neolithic–Megalithic–Mauryan hill complex (c.2500 BCE–300 CE) at Brahmagiri granite dome near Molakalmuru, Chitradurga — 1 km outcrop with Neolithic ash-mound, Megalithic cists and Ashokan Minor Rock Edict. Excavated 1947–50 by Mortimer Wheeler, Brahmagiri is the southernmost Ashokan edict (Isila), with stratigraphy: Neolithic (2500–1000 BCE) handmade grey ware and ash-mound (burnt cow-dung 2000 BCE), then Megalithic (1000–300 BCE) pit burials with iron and black-and-red ware, then Mauryan rock edict 260 BCE proclaiming dhamma at Isila, then Early Historic Satavahana. Demonstrates Deccan Neolithic → Megalithic → Mauryan imperial integration.
Why it mattersSouthernmost Ashoka — Mauryan frontier at Isila; whole South Indian Neolithic→Megalithic→Mauryan composite sequence type-site (Wheeler).
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Was Isila a chieftain town or Mauryan administrative outpost?
Theories
- 01Southern Neolithic independent cattle domestication before Deccan Megalithic iron
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.2500 BCE Neolithic ash-mound; edict 260 BCE
- Period
- South Indian Neolithic (2500–1000 BCE) → Megalithic Iron (1000–300) → Mauryan (260 BCE) → Satavahana
- Culture
- Southern Neolithic → Megalithic → Mauryan (Ashoka)
- Builders
- Southern Neolithic ash-mound herders → Megalithic iron builders → Mauryan artisans
- Purpose
- Neolithic cattle-keeper shrine hill → Megalithic burial hill → Mauryan dhamma proclamation at Isila frontier
- Abandoned
- c.300 CE (Satavahana decline)
- Rediscovered
- 1947 Wheeler ASI excavation; Ashokan edict known since 1898
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2500–1000 BCE
Neolithic grey ware and ash-mound (burnt dung) with bull figurines
c.1000–300 BCE
Megalithic cist burials with iron swords and BRW
c.260 BCE
Ashoka Minor Rock Edict 1–2 at Isila (Brahmagiri) on hill boulder
On the ground
Structures & features
14.8000° N · 76.8160° E · 610 m · 2 mapped features
Ashokan Minor Rock Edict Boulder
inscriptionMinor Rock Edicts 1–2 on granite boulder proclaiming dhamma at Isila (260 BCE)
14.8005° N · 76.8165° EMegalithic Cist Burial Cluster
burialMegalithic pit-cist burials with iron on northern granite slopes
14.7995° N · 76.8155° E