MYSORE: As a huge difference was found in the number of skulls estimated to have been buried and the quantity of body bones found, scientists feel that there might be another heap of bones located nearby.“The number of skulls estimated to have been buried and the quantity of bones found is too less. This leads to the assumption that there may be another heap of bones located somewhere nearby.However, no trace of such a burial has been found in the area,” Prof M S Krishnamurthy said in the report. One point that needs explanation is that most of the skulls are of the same size, suggesting that they were all adults. This can be explained by the fact that during famines and epidemics, minors become the first victims. They are probably buried by the surviving adults. But those who die eventually, that is, adults, would remain unburied as there may not be enough people left to bury them. Experts elucidate: “This description clearly indicates that those who died were never buried. Their bodies were lying in open fields and would have been eaten by animals and birds. People in large numbers migrated to other areas. The third year of the famine is said to be the most severe. Epidemics usually follow famines; starvation and epidemic diseases were the main causes of large-scale mortality. People ate corpses also. There was nobody to cremate or bury the dead. In such conditions, animals must have eaten the bodies and taken away the limbs to distant places. Skulls were lying on the road side and in adjacent fields. The skulls and heavy bones only remained in the fields and smaller and tender ones were eaten away by animals.They point out that after the famine, people must have returned to their homes, collected the skulls lying in surrounding fields, which were lying exposed to the atmosphere for a long time, and made a suitable burial for the dead. A shallow trench of about 10 cm deep was cut to hold the skulls in position. Mud was heaped on the skulls and bones and a namesake burial was made for the victims of Davgi-bara by the locals of Annigeri.Now, the question is, how long were the bodies were left in the open before they were buried.Forensic experts say, it takes six months to one year, in arid conditions, for decomposition of the bone cartilages. It may be stated that this burial was made after at least six months. If that is so, the question that arises is: would a flourishing society like that of Annigeri allow a huge heap of corposes to lie in the open, adjacent to the boundary of the town?Would it not cause health hazards to the people? However, no satisfactory explanation can be given at present for the delay.
Comments
0 comment