Rajahmundry: The State archaeological authorities have started excavation work at the megalithic burial site for scientific analysis. Archaeology deputy director K. Saibhakta Kesav inaugurated the work at Rayanipeta village of Yetapaka mandal in East Godavari on Monday during Karthika Masam. Speaking on the occasion, the DD stated that they would be carrying the work at the megalithic burial sites in anticipation of finding skeletal remains of ancestors and to study their lifestyle, customs, traditions, culture and practices based on scientific analysis and also findings of beads and other valuables secured in the burial sites.
The authorities have engaged private agencies to take up the digging work. Accordingly, a trench 28 feet wide and 28 feet length will be dug up and jungle clearance will be taken up. The digging site will also be photographed to show before and after excavation works.

State archaeology commissioner G. Vani Mohan was expected to inaugurate the excavation works at the site on Monday as per schedule. However, as the commissioner was pre-occupied with other works, she did not attend the event. Archaeology assistant director G. Venkata Ratnam, technical assistants S. Venkateswara Rao and K. Thimma Raju and others were present. The archaeological authorities say that the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology may be roped in to carry out nutrition levels of bones of ancestors to find their food habits and culture as part of the scientific analysis of megalithic burials.