Megalithic Tombs of Jaintapur | Sylhet

Ancient Megalithic Tombs are scattered in three places in Jaintapur upazila of Sylhet district of Bangladesh. The megalithic tombs of Jaintapur are basically several traditional monuments made of small and large stone slabs. These megalithic tombs are located in the heart of Jaintapur upazila (a) in front of Jainteswari Rajbari, (b) at Nijpat (in front of the minister’s house) in Khasia Palli area, and (c) at Jangil Bazar beside the Sylhet-Tamabil road in Muktarpur area. The geo-coordinates (latitude and longitude) of Jainteswari Rajbari and adjacent megalithic tombs at Jaintapur in Sylhet district are (a) 25°08’05.9″N 92°07’21.3″E (25.134972, 92.122583), (b) 25°08’05.0″N 92°07’35.9″E (25.134730, 92.126650) and (c) 25°08’22.5″N 92°07’11.9″E (25.139570, 92.119970).

At present, the Jainteshwari Rajbari (king’s house) with its ancient walled entrance gates, ruins of temples and other architectural structures is located at the heart of Jaintapur Upazila. There are frescos of various animals including humans, elephants all over the front wall of the house. There are some small and big stones or large blocks known as megalithic tombs in front of the south side wall and entrance gate of the house. Among these megalithic tombs, there are 4 standing stone pillars which called Menhir and 6 stone slabs set on standing stones which called Dolmen. The average height of the Menhirs is 2.4 meters. The largest Dolmen is 3.5 meters long and 2.62 meters wide.

Besides, there are 7 Menhirs and about 12 Dolmens on the south-east side of the road in front of the Jainteswari Rajbari, and 1 Menhir and 3 Dolmens on the south side. These Dolmens are of various shaped slabs, such as – square, rectangular and almost circular. The average height of the 8 menhirs here is 2.67 meters. Although about 12 Dolmens on the south-eastern side of the road are mentioned in different articles, it is a bit difficult to determine their number here. Because at present they are scattered in numerous fragments.

There are 2 Menhirs and 2 Dolmens at Nijpat (in front of Minister house) in Khasia Palli area towards about one km south-east from Jainteswari Rajbari.  Among them, floral decoration embedded is seen on Menhirs. The Dolmens are almost rectangular. In front of them, there is one archade made of bricks.

At Jangil Bazar beside the Sylhet-Tamabil road in Muktarpur area, there are 2 Menhirs and about 3 Dolmens. These Dolmens are of different shapes; some are square, some are almost rectangular. The largest menhir is 1.60 meters high. A Dolmen measuring 4 meters length and 3.8 meters width is very damaged.

According to various sources, the Jainteswari house is actually the historic house of the Sinteng or Jaintia kings. In 1618 CE, Jaintia king Jashomanik married Lakshminarayan’s daughter of Kochraja. As a wedding gift, King Jashomanika received a valuable sculpture namely Kali. He installed this metal sculpture in this house in the name of Jainteswari Kali. At the same time, this house was also used for the administration of the kingdom.

It is also known from the various information of legends and copperplates that Jaintapur state was under the rule of Kamrup kingdom in approximately 7th or 8th century CE. Later this state was under the rule of Chandra and Burman rulers respectively. After the fall of the Burman rulers, Jaintapur again came under the rule of the Deva dynasty for some time. Jayant Ray, the last ruler of the Deva dynasty, had a daughter named Jayanti.

Landwar, a son of a Khasi tribal chief, was married to this daughter. Based on this marriage, around 1500 CE, Jaintapur kingdom came under the rule of Khasias. Before the introduction of British rule in 1835, the state of Jaintapur was independently ruled by the Khasia kings. There are ruins of the Jainteswari Rajbari and megalithic tombs in the heart of the present Jaintapur upazila town. There are several legends about these megalithic tombs of Jaintapur.

First legend, The King used to sit on the stone slab (Dolmen) and conducted the administrative work. According to locals, the king used to sit on the largest stone slab (Dolmen). Relatively small stone slabs were for regional chiefs in the kingdom. It is also known that different stone slabs (Dolmen) were built for different kings. The king and the chiefs used to sit on these slabs and do justice. According to some of the people, servants of the kingdom collected taxes by sitting on thes tone slabs (Dolmen).

Second legend, mausoleums were built with standing stones (Menhirs) and stone slabs (Dolmens) for the repose of the soul of the deceased. After the death of various kings and their family members, separate stone tombs were built for each one. It is also known that this custom has been prevalent since ancient times. However, it is known from the locals about the tomb of Jangil Bazar beside the Sylhet-Tamabil road in Muktarpur area that there is a tomb of a royal maiden here.

According to the archaeological review, the construction of megalithic tombs is a very ancient practice. These megalithic tombs were built as memorials in different parts of the world. That is, after the death of any important person, this megalithic tomb was built to mark his/her grave. It is even known that megalithic monuments were built to commemorate any important event among people. From this review it is apparent that these stone tombs were probably built separately for each of the Jainteswari or Jaintia kings and their family members after their death.

Different types of megalithic tombs are observed in different places in the world. Apart from Bangladesh, there are megalithic tombs in various states of India including Kerala, Karnataka, and countries like South Korea, Israel, Jordan, Germany etc. The characteristics and names of megaliths vary from country to country. Such as Menhir, Dolmen, Stone Circle, Multiple Hoodstone etc.

Only 2 types of similarities are found with megalithic tombs located in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh. These are – Menhir and Dolmen. These megalithic tombs along with Jainteshwari Rajbari located in Jaintapur Upazila of Sylhet District were declared as protected archaeological site by the Government of Bangladesh on May 2, 1978. These megalithic tombs are currently listed and under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology.

Noted that the word megalithic or megalith is derived from the Greek word μέγας. Mega means big/large, and Lith means stone. Which means ‘great or big stone’. Megalithic or megalith + tomb means a great or large stone tomb. [Md. Shahin Alam]

Reference:
1. Jakariya, Abul Kalam Mohammad, 2011, Banladesher Prothnasampad (bengali), Dibba Prokash, Dhaka, Page 593 – 595.
2. Jaintapur
3. Megalith
4. Bānglādēśēra mēgālithika saudha
5. Megalithic Cultures of Central India and Deccan during the period circa 1000 B.C.E TO 300 B.C.E
6. Mēgālitha samādhi saudha
7. Department of Archaeology, Bangladesh

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