Correct Option
The correct option is (d).
Explanation
Megaliths are large stone structures associated chiefly with the burial practices of the Iron Age in Peninsular India (roughly 1000 BCE onwards). While they vary in structure, they share the common feature of using large stones to mark or construct graves.Statement 1 is Correct: Megalithic structures exhibit significant variety. Some are clearly visible on the surface, such as dolmens (stone tables) and menhirs (standing stones). Others are underground burials, such as cists and urn burials, which are often marked on the surface by stone circles or boulders.
Statement 2 is Correct: A Cist is a box-like underground tomb constructed using stone slabs. A distinctive feature of many cists is the presence of a port-hole-a circular opening in one of the slabs. This opening was used as an entrance to insert skeletal remains or grave goods without disturbing the entire structure.
Statement 3 is Correct: The stone circles or large boulders placed on the surface above the underground burials served as signposts. These markers allowed people to easily locate the burial site later, likely to pay homage or to bury other family members in the same grave.
Key Takeaway: Megaliths are primarily Iron Age burial monuments characterized by underground chambers (like cists with port-holes) and surface markers (stone circles) used to identify the site.