51 
1888.] A. Rea— Pre-historic Burial-places in Southern India. 
would be absurd, for except in cases where the surface earth is washed 
away by rain or in similar exceptional instances, it will be found that 
the tendency is for the surface to rise by continual accumulations of 
soil, rather than fall. Ancient remains continue to sink below ground, 
or more strictly become covered up in proportion to their age. This 
will be found to be always the case, except in cases where there is some 
counteracting cause at work. Now the most probable explanation of the 
position of these tombs is, that they would seem to have been placed in 
the earth with their rim about or near the surface, and the lids above 
it: this was then covered up by a mound. The mound would gradually 
wash down, and as it went, the lids of the tombs would disappear also, 
leaving the tombs themselves exactly as we find them or just about the 
surface of the ground, and without their covers. It is out of the ques¬ 
tions to suppose that the surface could have been so much higher than 
it is now ; and the only possible way by which the high lids of the tombs 
could be protected or covered would be by a mound.* We have endea¬ 
voured to show that the practices of modern burying castes may be 
referred to as elucidating some of the ancient customs connected with 
these tombs ; and in this instance the placing of the tomb partly above the 
natural surface of the ground, has its counterpart in the burying of the 
body up to its waist in the grave. (See subsequent remarks on the 
subject.) 
Regarding the foregoing remarks on the gradual silting up of 
ancient remains, it may be observed that the fact, if properly investi¬ 
gated, might be the means of settling many disputed questions regarding 
the age of megalithic and other remains. Very little really is known as 
to the actual age of such tombs. Various dates have of course been 
assigned, but only on surmise ; nothing certain has yet transpired to 
definitely fix their actual age. Now this silting of the soil goes on 
steadily from year to year, and, if the total accumulation in a century be 
known, we would have an important factor in ascertaining their date, 
from their position above or below ground. Various other matters 
would of course have to be taken into consideration, such as any pecu¬ 
liarities of the locality. For instance, remains on the sides of a hill, 
may silt up but gradually or not at all, through the water rushing down 
the sides and carrying away the accumulations of soil. These are ex¬ 
ceptions ; bnt in ordinary circumstances, the process must go on with 
ceaseless regularity. Most of the ancient remains now hidden by 
mounds, have been covered by this natural process ; very few can have 
been artificially concealed. It can certainly be used as an auxiliary to 
* See further remarks on the mounds, under the article on the Paravai tombs, 
also Plate X. 
