The prehistoric Burren and contemporary Meghalaya: a comparative study of two megalithic societies

Danny Burke

This project explores the use of megalithic structures in the prehistoric Burren, Co. Clare, in the light of ethnological information from the extant megalithic culture of the Khasi people in the state of Meghalaya, in north-east India. The Burren area of Co. Clare has a very high density of megalithic monuments of which very few have been excavated. It has been postulated that these structures were built by clan-based tribal groups engaged in a mixed agricultural economy. Megalithic structures continue to be used by adherents to the traditional religion among the matrilineal clan-based Khasi tribe, in the hill-state of Meghalaya in north-east India, whose economy is based on cattle-rearing on the hills and grain cultivation in the valley bottoms. Many of these Khasi monuments resemble Burren megalithic structures morphologically and in terms of scale and, as is considered to be the case in Irish prehistory, they are used for group interment of the remains of the members of the extended clan.

This project aims to examine Khasi practises and rituals, the structure and distribution of their mortuary structures, the meaning attached to both structures and the associated rituals by Khasi people and through a comparative study with selected Burren areas attempt to obtain insights into demographic, territorial and social aspects of the prehistoric Burren. This project will also address the role ethnographic analogy can validly play in elucidating prehistoric societies, using these distant but apparently similar examples.

Figure 2: Mawbynna near the old market-place, Mylliem

E-mail danny.burkenuigalway.ie

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