Annigeri skulls and skeletons, found in August 2010: Different misinterpretations made initially are used even today to beat Rajaraja and Rajendra! [1]

Annigeri skulls and skeletons, found in August 2010: Different misinterpretations made initially are used even today to beat Rajaraja and Rajendra! [1]

Aug 29, 2010 – A worker unearths many human skulls while digging a small canal in Annigeri of Navalgund Taluk near Hubli: Around 60 to 75 human skeletons were recovered from the outskirts of Annagiri / Annigeri[1] ( ಅಣ್ಣಿಗೇರಿ) town in Karanataka’s Dharwar District[2]. The first 20 skeletons were discovered on 28-08-2010, Saturday when municipal corporation workers were digging the area for widening the drainage system[3]. The skeletons were buried in a very systematic manner[4]. S. Shreya, a professor of archaeology in Karnataka University said[5], “On the northern side, one can see only the systematic burial of the heads, and in the southern side you can see the burial of large number of them in a single layer, the legs and hands, and other parts of the body.” The skeletons had been dismembered at the time of burial, as all the skulls were recovered from one site whereas the other parts of the skeletons were found buried at a nearby spot adjacent to the drainage system. Thus, this had led to the involved scholars to interpret differently.

31-08-2010 (Tuesday) officials visited: A retired Geologist T. Shetty suspects that the skeletons were buried following a battle fought during the British period. “Such groups of heads joined in one place are very rare in south India. This is only possible, when there is a small war or some fight between two groups. Those are the possibilities. After DNA (testing), we will come to know the age. If you come to know the age, then we can decide whether it has occurred during the British period,” said Shetty. Local police have sought the assistance of the Anthropology-Genetics section of Karnataka University as well as the Archaeological Survey of India to unravel the intricacies of the case. Experts who visited the spot on 31-08-2010, Tuesday felt that it could also be a matter of organized crime. Local people say that the area used to be a burial ground and the mass burial have taken place after a war or famine. The site has been cordoned off to prevent people from entering the area. Police have sent the skeletons to the forensic lab for further investigation. (ANI). Thus, here, the version of the local people appeared to be reasonable.

February 2011 – More skeleton found: However, the newspapers carried various stories. There was a report that 300 more skeletons were found[6]. Thus, the number was increasing[7]. More than 600 skulls were recovered in the village of Annigeri near Dharwad in Karnataka in 2010. The skulls were dated as being ~200 years old—all victims of a 1790 famine in the region. This is a rare example where the District Commissioner’s Office and State Archaeological Department formally asked for teeth to be used in estimating age-at-death and sex of the post-mortem remains, which contributed to solving the mystery in the case. Addressing a press conference here, Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad Darpan Jain, Director of the Department of Archaeology and Museums R. Gopal and historian M.S. Krishnamurthy said there was no report on the existence of such a mass grave so far. Initially, only 50 skulls were found next to a drain after the ground was dug up for clearing the silt. As the finding caused a sensation, the administration cordoned off the area and requested the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums to conduct a study. A team of experts, led by Gopal and Prof Krishnamurthy, visited the site, but put off excavation because the area was damp.

Excavations carried on – August 28^th 2010 and January 12, 2011: First the reported discovery of the skulls were on 28-08-2020. Then, the excavation perhaps by the professionals started on 12-01-2011. Thus, in between, nearly for more than four months what happened is not known. The excavation began on January 12 2011 after the drain was diverted so as to allow the ground to dry. After the excavation, Jain said 471 skulls were found on a stretch of 15.6 metres by 1.7 metres. “The human skulls [only the upper portion, with the jaws missing] had been placed neatly facing different directions, and next to them were human bones on the same stretch. There is a missing patch in the arrangement, which experts believe might have been due to the digging for the drain… According to experts, around 600 human skulls might have been buried at the site.” The experts reckoned that the skulls were those of adults, he said, and the period to which they belonged was yet to be ascertained.

March 2011 – Proposal for testing of the skulls and skeletons: After the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad, expressed its inability to ascertain the period, the skulls were sent to the Institute of Physics, Bhubaneshwar, where tests were underway to ascertain the period through carbon dating. Jain said the next course of action would be decided only after the test results were out, possibly in two to three weeks. Gopal and Professor Krishnamurthy said the skulls were of those slain in a massacre. In the past, evidences for massacre and mass burial were found in the country, including those related to the Vijayanagara empire, but nowhere had such a neat arrangement of skulls been reported. Gopal said Annigeri boasts a history of more than 1,000 years, and there is a mention of a massacre at Annigeri in an inscription dating to the 12^th century[8]. Professor Krishnamurthy said the skulls were buried just two feet below the top soil, and there were chances of it being a secondary burial. “We are also searching for any mention of a massacre in the local folklore, so that we can relate it to a particular period.” He said 286 of the skulls were intact, and if the test results were to be unclear, a few of these skulls would be sent again for fresh tests[9].

AMS machine was not working properly – earlier dates ascertained not correct – the dates were changed from 7^th cent.CE to 14^th-15^th cent.CE: Deputy Commissioner Darpan Jain, “A majority of adult skulls do not have lower jaws. Also, the number of body parts found are less when compared to the skulls unearthed. This has led to opinion among archaeologists that skulls were buried after the bodies started decomposing,” he said. As a couple of bodies in sitting posture have been unearthed near the site, it can be presumed that the site was once a burial ground, he added. The institute, after carrying out Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) analysis, concluded that the skulls belonged to the latter part of 14^th century or beginning of 15^th century. That was the best-possible result under the given conditions, Prof. Mahapatra said and added that the tests could not be carried out early as AMS machine was not working properly. Dharwad DC Darpan Jain, who received the report on Monday evening, said the department of archaeology has been informed of the findings. Thus, naturally, doubt arose about the dating.

March – 2011 – Religious massacre, black magic – the hypotheses continued: The department decided to send the samples to Archaeological Survey of India’s Central Institute (Ahmedabad) for corroborative tests. The findings indicate that the skulls were buried in 1373 AD[10]. Now, the historians have to find out whether it was a massacre or deaths in the war or mutiny. There are inscriptions in Annigeri’s Amruteshwar Temple, which belong to a period between 1100 AD and 1200 AD. But the skulls found are reportedly of the later period[11]. R Gopal, director of the state department of archaeology, is of the opinion that there was a religious massacre in Annigeri in 13th century AD, and another by a unit of Adil Shahi army in 15th century AD, which killed hundreds of people in Annigeri. The historical evidence should throw light on the exact cause of death. Jain said historians/ archaeologists are welcome to throw more light on the issue, provided they have material to substantiate their statements. A decision on whether to shift the skulls to a museum or retain them in the place where they were found will be taken soon, he added.

May 2011 – 638 YBP date fixed wrong: The first report submitted by the Institute of Physics in Bhubaneswar in May 2011 used Carbon-14 or carbon dating technology and stated that the skulls were 638 years old, give or take 60 years, placing the deaths around 1370 A.D. The institute used its technology on the skulls directly. The skulls were carbon-dated to – their age fixed at 638 years YBP (with an error margin of 10 per cent), scholars attached to the state department of archaeology and museums immediately concluded that people were massacred during the Adil Shahi dynasty and then their heads were buried deep under the earth. On the other hand, two different examinations and analysis of the skulls, one undertaken by Prof R M Shadaksharaiah and the other by Prof M M Kalburgi[12] and Associate Prof J M Nagaiah (all of the Karnataka University, Dharwad) appear to support a more grisly interpretation — human sacrifices associated with prevailing tantric practices and cultic killings as a perverse religious ritual in the period the between 11^th and 15^th centuries. All these interpretations conform to a savagery-barbarism-civilisation social evolution model. According to Shadaksharaiah, who conducted a stratigraphical study of the soil, the skulls are ‘unique’ in that they form a ‘pavilion’ which, in his analysis, was the work of a secret society of tantrics who used the surface of the pits to perform black magic and other grisly rituals. “If there was a localised massacre in Annigeri around the 12^th century AD, it would have found mention in the many inscriptions that have been found in and around Annigeri,” Shadaksharaiah said. Brushing aside the theory that Veera Maaheshwara cultists destroyed Jaina temples in the region and then committed suicide, Prof Shadaksharaiah said: “Since there is no mention of the destruction of Jaina, or even Shaiva temples by the Veera Maaheshwara cult in inscriptions, we have to go by circumstantial evidence.” Nagaiah is convinced that the skulls belong to the early 11^th century AD when people of Annigeri were put to the sword by a huge army of the Chola emperor Rajaraja I during 1007-08 AD[13].

May 2011 – J.M. Nagaiah – the origin of misinterpretation: J.M. Nagaiah has relied on a Hottur inscription in Shiggon village of Haveri district, which is about 40 km from Annigeri[14]. According to the inscription Rajaraja Chola I ravaged the whole countryside, murdering women, children and brahmins and “overthrew the order of the caste.” Among others who doubt the veracity of the radiocarbon dating is KUD’s archaeology Professor Ravi Korisettar who, for the want of specific and more precise scientific testing of the bones does not attach any historical or archaeological context to the skulls. Clearly, the Annigeri find has created dissonance among Karnataka’s scholars of history and archaeology as an explanation for the 601 pieces of skulls has ranged from warfare to ritual killing to tantric practices to mass massacre. As there is no consensus, forensics science skills could be applied to arrive at the probable cause of death in Annigeri approximately 638 years ago. Another means to unravel the mystery of the splendorous skulls is to carbon-date the residual skeletal remains that have been found in nearby pits.

January 2012 – Pampa’s birthplace, selling of the site etc: Besides the skulls, Annigeri was in news for the controversy over a recent resolution passed by the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana. The resolution seeks to shift the venue of the presentation of the annual Pampa award from Banavasi to Annigeri. Annigeri is the birthplace of Pampa, considered to be the father of Kannada poetry. Meanwhile, the land where the skulls and skeletons found was sold by the owner[15]. Obviously, he did not want more controversies from the archaeologists, historians and researchers[16]. Speaking to Deccan Herald over the phone from Bhubaneswar, Institute of Physics (IoP) Prof D P Mohapatra, who conducted the Carbon-14 dating on the skull samples, said the scientific process undertaken in his laboratory “has been able to consistently ascertain” that the skulls are 638 years old, with an error of plus or minus 60 years[17]. The Government of Karnataka decided that since the Institute of Physics, Bhubaneshwar, has offered results that come with the caveat of a 60-year margin of error, there is a need for greater precision. Samples will now be sent to Beta Analytic Inc, a private lab located in Miami, Florida, USA, a dedicated radiocarbon laboratory, also considered the world’s largest radiocarbon dating lab[18]. India head of Beta Analytic Inc Operations, Andrew Pal, said, “The skull samples from Karnataka would be received at New Delhi first, and then sent to Miami via courier services[19]. [Continued in second part].

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

01-05-2020

[1] Annigeri (Kannada: ಅಣ್ಣಿಗೇರಿ)is the place of birth of the famous Kannada poet Adikavi Pampa (Kannada: ಆದಿಕವಿ ಪಂಪ). It is well known for the black stone temple built by the Western Chalukya Empire. known as Amruteshwara Temple. A temple of mythological figures supported by 76 columns, located in the Dharwad district, and has a derasar dedicated to Parshva, the 23rd Tirthankara in Jainism. Annigeri also has temples dedicated to Banashankari, Basappa, Gajina Basappa and Hanuman. There is an ancient Lingayati temple near the railway station. Annigeri has seven mosques and two Lingayati Mathas.

[2] Sify.com, Human skulls found, Sept.1, 2010.

[3] https://www.sify.com/news/human-skulls-found-in-dharwar-imagegallery-national-kjckVmcahbjsi.html

[4] Top News, Several skeletons recovered in Dharwar in Karnataka, Raman Iyer, 1 sept.2010.

[5] https://topnews.in/law/several-skeletons-recovered-dharwar-karnataka-225647

[6] Deccan Herald, 300 more skulls found at Annigeri, Annigeri (Dharwad dist), Feb 28, DHNS, FEB 28 2011, 23:07 IST, UPDATED: FEB 28 2011, 23:08 IST

[7] https://www.deccanherald.com/content/141900/300-more-skulls-found-annigeri.html

[8] The Hindu, At Annigeri, a rare find of human skulls, Girish Pattanashetti, ANNIGERI (DHARWAD DISTRICT):, MARCH 08, 2011 00:44 IST, UPDATED: MARCH 08, 2011 02:46 IST

[9] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/At-Annigeri-a-rare-find-of-human-skulls/article14938189.ece

[10] Deccan Herald, Annigeri: Results of carbon test in 2 weeks Hubli, March 7, DHNS, MAR 07 2011, 23:38 ISTUPDATED: MAR 07 2011, 23:38 IST

[11] https://www.deccanherald.com/content/144020/annigeri-results-carbon-test-2.html

[12] Eminent researcher, critic and former vice-chancellor of Hampi Kannada University

[13] Deccan Herald, In studying Annigeri skulls, a collision of histories By Chandan Nandy, MAY 12 2011, 22:16 IST, UPDATED: MAY 12 2011, 22:16 IST

[14] https://www.deccanherald.com/content/160889/in-studying-annigeri-skulls-collision.html

[15] Deccan Herald, Site of Annigeri skulls find sold Sale shocker, Srinidhi R,Dharwad, Jan 8, DHNS, JAN 09 2012, 01:39 IST, UPDATED: JAN 09 2012, 01:39 IST

[16] https://www.deccanherald.com/content/217738/site-annigeri-skulls-find-sold.html

[17] Deccan Herald, C-14 dating gives Annigeri skulls 638 years, Chandan Nandy, Bangalore, May 9, DHNS:, MAY 10 2011, 01:15 ISTUPDATED: MAY 10 2011, 10:52 IST

https://www.deccanherald.com/content/160243/c-14-dating-gives-annigeri.html

[18] DNA, Nine months after 600 skulls were found in Annigeri, US lab roped in to solve mystery, B R Rohit, Updated: Jul 6, 2011, 01:10 PM IST.

[19] https://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report-nine-months-after-600-skulls-were-found-in-annigeri-us-lab-roped-in-to-solve-mystery-1562840