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 "title": "Pusalapadu Mound",
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 "excerpt": "Pusalapadu Mound is a prehistoric archaeological site in the village of Pusalapadu, Kurnool district, India, showing occupation from the Neolithic to Megalithic period and interpreted as an ancient bead-making factory.",
 "snippet": "Pusalapadu Mound is a prehistoric archaeological site in the village of Pusalapadu, Kurnool district, India, showing occupation from the Neolithic to Megalithic period and interpreted as an ancient bead-making factory.",
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 "markdown": "# Pusalapadu Mound\n\n**Pusalapadu Mound** is a prehistoric archaeological site at the village of Pusalapadu in the Giddalur taluk area of Kurnool district, [Andhra Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/andhra-pradesh), documented by the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities under reference AP21010022.<sup>[1](https://nmma.nic.in/nmma/builtDetail.do?CultAff=1&refId=10022)</sup> The site shows indications of a sequence running from the lower [Neolithic](https://www.edgepedia.org/neolithic) through the [Chalcolithic](https://www.edgepedia.org/chalcolithic) to the Megalithic period.<sup>[3](https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/51105.pdf)</sup> Its numerous Harappan-type steatite disc beads and painted pottery have led to its interpretation as a factory site for bead production, and its Telugu name combines *pusalu* (beads) and *padu* (a refuse heap or mound of antiquity).<sup>[3](https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/51105.pdf)</sup> Renewed exploration in 1962-63 also yielded Early and Middle Stone Age axes, cleavers, and flake tools of quartzite.<sup>[2](https://assets.ctfassets.net/l47hkrce4wip/4S9zr44aD4u7eb0yvDFOtB/dfa75557365e712f96d395cf04e6b770/012_Indian_Archaeology_A_Review_1973-74.pdf)</sup>\n\nA National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) record under reference AP21010022 separately documents the site as prehistoric built heritage in Kurnool district, reflecting the district boundaries in force when the site was first recorded.<sup>[1](https://nmma.nic.in/nmma/builtDetail.do?CultAff=1&refId=10022)</sup>\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Location | 15°30′29″N 79°06′28″E; village of Pusalapadu, Giddalur taluk area<sup>[2](https://assets.ctfassets.net/l47hkrce4wip/4S9zr44aD4u7eb0yvDFOtB/dfa75557365e712f96d395cf04e6b770/012_Indian_Archaeology_A_Review_1973-74.pdf)</sup> |\n| Cultural affiliation | Prehistoric; a sequence from lower Neolithic to Chalcolithic and Megalithic is indicated<sup>[3](https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/51105.pdf)</sup> |\n| Signature finds | Painted pottery and large numbers of Harappan-type steatite disc beads, suggesting a bead-making factory<sup>[3](https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/51105.pdf)</sup> |\n| Stone Age evidence | Renewed exploration (1962-63) yielded Early and Middle Stone Age axes, cleavers, and flake tools of quartzite<sup>[2](https://assets.ctfassets.net/l47hkrce4wip/4S9zr44aD4u7eb0yvDFOtB/dfa75557365e712f96d395cf04e6b770/012_Indian_Archaeology_A_Review_1973-74.pdf)</sup> |\n| Name meaning | Telugu *pusalu* (beads) and *padu* (refuse heap or mound of antiquity)<sup>[3](https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/51105.pdf)</sup> |\n\n## Name and setting\n\nThe village name itself records the site's character. According to a study of the site published through the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, pusalu means beads and padu means a refuse heap or mound of antiquity, so the toponym describes an ancient mound strewn with beads.<sup>[3](https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/51105.pdf)</sup> A parallel name survives at Rampuram in Banganapalle taluk, where a Chalcolithic mound is called \"Bandipusala chenu\", literally \"a field of wheel shaped beads\".<sup>[3](https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/51105.pdf)</sup>\n\nThe painted pottery culture sites of the region, including Pusalapadu, were open-air settlements away from the hills, with mounds rising to 1 to 2 meters in height.<sup>[4](https://www.tnarch.gov.in/Library%20BOOk%20PDF/NEOLITHIC%20CULTURES%20OF%20INDIA.pdf)</sup>\n\n## Archaeological investigation\n\nThe Excavations Branch of the ASI under Shri S. R. Rao undertook exploration in the district with a view to ascertaining the origin and distribution of the painted pottery culture already reported from Pusalapadu by earlier explorers.<sup>[1](https://nmma.nic.in/nmma/builtDetail.do?CultAff=1&refId=10022)</sup> The stated aims were to establish the origin and distribution of the painted pottery culture noticed at Pusalapadu and other sites, and to determine its generic relation with the Neolithic-Chalcolithic cultures of the Godavari-Narmada valleys on one side and the pure non-metal-using Neolithic cultures of the Palar Basin on the other; the sites explored in that program included Patpadu, Singanapalli, Sivavaram, and Ramapuram.<sup>[4](https://www.tnarch.gov.in/Library%20BOOk%20PDF/NEOLITHIC%20CULTURES%20OF%20INDIA.pdf)</sup>\n\n**Stone Age and later occupation.** Renewed explorations at the site, reported in *Indian Archaeology 1973-74 — A Review* with reference to the 1962-63 season, yielded a rich variety of Early and Middle Stone Age tools, including axes, cleavers, and flake tools of quartzite.<sup>[2](https://assets.ctfassets.net/l47hkrce4wip/4S9zr44aD4u7eb0yvDFOtB/dfa75557365e712f96d395cf04e6b770/012_Indian_Archaeology_A_Review_1973-74.pdf)</sup> The same source describes Pusalapadu as a famous site in Giddalur taluk.<sup>[2](https://assets.ctfassets.net/l47hkrce4wip/4S9zr44aD4u7eb0yvDFOtB/dfa75557365e712f96d395cf04e6b770/012_Indian_Archaeology_A_Review_1973-74.pdf)</sup> A village-to-village survey in [Prakasam district](https://www.edgepedia.org/prakasam-district) recorded in the 1981-82 review classified Pusalapadu's cultural assemblage as early historical, medieval, and temple.<sup>[5](https://nmma.nic.in/nmma/NAS1/nmma_doc/IAR/Indian%20Archaeology%201981-82%20A%20Review.pdf)</sup>\n\n## Finds and cultural sequence\n\nAt Pusalapadu in Cumbum taluk the painted pottery is comparatively less abundant than at neighboring sites, but the steatite discular beads are so numerous that the site has been interpreted as a factory site for bead production.<sup>[3](https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/51105.pdf)</sup> The site shows indications of a sequence running from the lower Neolithic through the Chalcolithic to the Megalithic period.<sup>[3](https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/51105.pdf)</sup> Twilled mat impressions on the bases of pots, evidence of mat weaving in the Neolithic economy, are reported from Pusalapadu among a group of Andhra sites that also includes Garapadu and Ramapuram.<sup>[6](https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/icp01/chapter/pre-historic-cultures-in-india/)</sup>\n\n## Protection status\n\nThe site appears as \"Ancient Site, Pusalapadu\" in the ASI's list of centrally protected monuments for Andhra Pradesh under the Amaravati Circle, South zone, and in successive [Government of India](https://www.edgepedia.org/government-of-india) parliamentary replies listing monuments of the BC period and archaeological sites under ASI care in the state.<sup>[7](https://rsdebate.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/725884/1/PQ_256_24032022_U2421_p152_p159.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[8](https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/187/AS339_QXwjgu.pdf?source=pqals)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities, Built Heritage/Site Detail: Pusalapadu, ref. AP21010022](https://nmma.nic.in/nmma/builtDetail.do?CultAff=1&refId=10022)\n2. [Indian Archaeology 1973-74 — A Review, explorations at Pusalapadu, Giddalur Taluk](https://assets.ctfassets.net/l47hkrce4wip/4S9zr44aD4u7eb0yvDFOtB/dfa75557365e712f96d395cf04e6b770/012_Indian_Archaeology_A_Review_1973-74.pdf)\n3. [Patapadu Revisited, IGNCA (Asi_data 51105)](https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/51105.pdf)\n4. [Neolithic Cultures of India, Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology](https://www.tnarch.gov.in/Library%20BOOk%20PDF/NEOLITHIC%20CULTURES%20OF%20INDIA.pdf)\n5. [Indian Archaeology 1981-82 — A Review, village-to-village survey, District Prakasam](https://nmma.nic.in/nmma/NAS1/nmma_doc/IAR/Indian%20Archaeology%201981-82%20A%20Review.pdf)\n6. [Pre-historic Cultures in India, e-PG Pathshala (INFLIBNET)](https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/icp01/chapter/pre-historic-cultures-in-india/)\n7. [Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question 2421, 24.03.2022, list of centrally protected monuments in Andhra Pradesh](https://rsdebate.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/725884/1/PQ_256_24032022_U2421_p152_p159.pdf)\n8. [Lok Sabha Starred Question 339, 16.03.2026, archaeological sites under ASI in Andhra Pradesh](https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/187/AS339_QXwjgu.pdf?source=pqals)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Places and geography › Parks, protected areas, and geographic heritage sites › Geographic heritage districts and memorial sites › Heritage designation and preservation › National and regional heritage registers › Monuments of National Importance and Indian state monument registers*\n\n*Initially written Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "speakable": "Pusalapadu Mound is a prehistoric archaeological site in the village of Pusalapadu, Kurnool district, India, showing occupation from the Neolithic to Megalithic period and interpreted as an ancient bead-making factory."
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