Ballari  :

To preserve the stone artifacts found in South India’s “largest neolithic site” located in Sanganakallu village, Ballari, and other places such as Vijayapura and Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, a mini museum is being readied at the cultural complex here.

The goal behind setting up this museum is preserving  the neolithic stone artifacts in a scientific manner and documenting them properly to help research scholars. A few artifacts will also be kept on display for the public.

According to Prof Ravi Korishettar, who conducted research on the site in Sanganakallu for 10 years, the site is the largest neolithic site in South India.

The hilltop site is spread over 1,000 acres.  However, he told Express that rampant stone quarrying has been destroying the site. At the museum, the artifacts Korishettar found during his small-scale excavations will be preserved.

He said as part of his research, he explored around 40 neolithic sites in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and found artifacts after excavations in 20.

In 2008, he appealed to the Ballari deputy commissioner to take steps to set up a mini museum to preserve the artifacts. The DC approved the proposal, but work was delayed for years due to technical reasons.

But the museum is now nearing completion and according to sources, is expected to be thrown open in two months.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Bhukker Madhu Kumar / June 10th, 2015