Archaeology Of Karnataka: Pre & Proto History Of South Western Region

Archaeological Research in different parts of Karnataka has come a long way ever since Meadows Taylor (1842) and Robert Bruce Forte (1881) brought to light sites of pre-historic appendage. Subsequent explorations carried out by various scholars in different geographical zones of Karnataka particularly in the Krishna, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha valleys has revealed significant evidences relating to different category of Palaeolithic, Neolithic and Megalithic cultures. However, comparatively such studies were wanting in the south-western part of Karnataka particularly in the central mountainous region of Western Ghats comprising the districts of Hassan, Chikamagalur and Shimoga popularly called the "Malnad" region. But for sporadic discovery of Palaeolithic or Neolithic sites here and there, no systematic studies had been attempted till recently in this monsoon belt of Karnataka.