Volume : 6, Issue : 6, June - 2017

Understanding Aspects of Gender from the South Indian Megalithic Data

Avantika Sharma

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;&#10;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Calii;mso-fareast-theme-font:&#10;minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-IN;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:&#10;AR-SA">The study of gender is an important aspect of ancient Indian studies since the nineteenth century. We can identify four layers of historiography orientalist, utilitarian, nationalist and feminist scholars. While exploring gender equations, the studies have mainly centred themselves on whether on presence or lack of golden age. Also, these studies are mainly based on literary and epigraphical sources. The use of archaeology has been minimal. In this article, we attempt to understand gender as visible in the megalithic burials of south India. These funerary monuments dominated the southern landscape from 1200 BCE to 300 CE. The study of gender in these monuments can be done by identifying the sex of the skeletons and also the artefacts buried with them. We believe that this can give a unique insight into the role of the women, and gender equations in the society.</span></i></p>