Udupi: A remarkable prehistoric standing stone (menhir), possibly from the Stone Age, has been uncovered near the Baje Dam, built across the Suvarna River along the Hiriyadka-Kukkehalli route. This large stone find, estimated to be around 2,000 years old, has garnered significant interest from archaeologists and local history enthusiasts alike.
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The menhir was discovered by Ganesh Naik Cherkadi, an employee at Udayavani, along with Gitesh, a Hindi teacher from Nidle Government High School. The stone stands about six feet tall above ground, with locals often referring to it as a “Gadikallu” or boundary stone.
Previously, K. Sridhar Bhat, a retired teacher from U. Kamalabai High School, had conducted exploratory work in the area, uncovering ancient cave burials and relics dating back to both the Microlithic and Neolithic periods. However, recent road-widening activities in the area have raised concerns that many such historical artefacts might have been destroyed during construction.
Shrutesh Acharya Moodubelle, the Deputy Director of the Shreeniketan Museum and the Keladi Rani Chennamma Study Chair, Kukke Subramanya, confirmed that this standing stone could indeed be nearly two millennia old. He remarked that the discovery adds to the historical and archaeological significance of the region, highlighting its rich ancient heritage.
