A research team led by a Hartwick College scholar in the United States has uncovered a largely intact human burial along with several artefacts from the Neolithic and later periods at Tekkalakote in Karnataka&rsquo;s Ballari district.
The findings emerged from excavations at the Gowdra Moole hill range on the southwestern edge of Tekkalakote. The team included researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, the Central University of Karnataka, and local experts who have previously assisted in field studies in the region.
Tekkalakote is considered a significant archaeological zone because evidence from the Stone Age, Neolithic period, and early metal age has been identified within the same landscape, offering a rare opportunity to trace nearly 5,000 years of human activity.
Among the most notable discoveries is a human skeleton measuring approximately 5.5 feet. The burial arrangement, which involved placing stones over the body, points to distinctive funerary customs and provides important clues about the ritual practices of the time.
Excavations conducted over the past month involved three specialised teams surveying adjacent locations. Researchers recovered pottery fragments, stone tools, beads, and large earthen vessels, some bearing nail-like impressions and decorative patterns. These containers may have played a role in burial ceremonies.
Scientific examination is underway to determine the age of the skeletal remains, while conservation efforts are being carried out to reconstruct damaged pottery for further study.
Tekkalakote was first identified during a Tungabhadra valley survey in 1963 and was excavated the following year. Ongoing research suggests the area supported a Southern Neolithic culture between roughly 3000 and 1200 BCE.
Officials believe the discoveries could strengthen Tekkalakote&rsquo;s potential as a destination for archaeological and heritage tourism, particularly as nearby medieval remains also await deeper exploration.

Largely intact skeleton and artefacts found at Tekkalakote hill range in Ballari

Neolithic Burial Found in Ballari Excavation Sites

Largely intact skeleton and artefacts found at Tekkalakote hill range in Ballari

February 9, 2026 | 09:51 IST