One of the striking features of the Khasis is the Megalithic culture whereby they erect megaliths, monoliths, cromlech and dolmens over which lie the foundation of prehistoric origin. It is astonishing to see that this culture is found to be associated with ancient people from all over the world such as the Monkhmer group of South East Asia. Such practices of the erection of stones are found in France and other parts of Europe. These stones themselves are a great mystery as their shapes are similar to those formed in England, ancient Brittany, Denmark and other parts of the world. In view of the fact that these stones are found all over the world, the origin of the Khasi culture is a debated subject.

The megaliths and the monoliths serve as memoirs of the dead. The Khasis generally erect a monolith as a tribute to a dead person. Immediately after the cremation, a monolith will be erected. These monoliths are comprised of a set of upright and flat stones. The upright stones or the menhirs are known as mawsynsang or the milestone and the table stone or dolmens are known as mawkynthei or the female stone. Menhirs or pillars stand upright, their bane being dumped inside and the dolmens lie flat in the front. They are known a Mawkjat laid during the cremation of the deceased or during the disposal of the ashes of the demised members of the house. Mawknaii maw pyrsa commemorating the seniors or juniors usually vary from three tall pillars to eleven or more and are associated with two or more dolmens.

It is a wonder how the Khasis accomplished the task of creating these beautiful monoliths without much technical evolution. The technical devices used to create these curious architectural forms and the arrangement of the components in the form of stone blocks, slabs, tiles and other grated materials must surely have been impressive as they depict the shapes of huge and sometimes hereditary construction. Rock carvings of a pair of elephants facing the sunrise and sunset at Ritiang beside the carving of a bull and an elephant in combat at Mawryntung and footprints of a tiger and a rhino are found near Mandong. Any finding in brief highlights consists of pictorial depictions of a human figure lying flat on the surface of the rock.

Megalithic erections are also connected with cremations, bone collection and depository ceremonies. On the way to the cremation grounds or to the Mawpbeh Mawkynroh or the Mawbah the clan used to erect monoliths and a foot stone on the roadside. On the way to the cremation ground, they used to stop here and sacrifice a goat known a U Blang Mawlinti.

Heaps of stones today at the corners of deserted villages indicate stone work obtained from the past. Ruins of the old stone fortifications are found at Madul Maskut, Iawdaiji, Jaintiapur, Mawsmai, Mawmluh and Nartiang which provide glimpses into the type of dwelling that were used by these people.

Monuments of huge rough hewn stones or the monoliths are also named according to their size. The dolmen generally consists of two or more vertical stones supporting another stone on a vertical slant. The flat vertical stone is called the mawkynthei (female stone) and the upright horizontal one is known as the mawshring.

Gurdon states that probably one of the first things that strikes the eye of a visitor to the Khasi Hills is the large number of monolith tables, stones and comlechs. These stones are rightly styled memorial stones or kyngmaw. At Nongkrem, there is a centre stone with a regular top which represents the head. At Umstow two rows of monoliths stand with each row having five monoliths.

Memorial pillars and stones that silently tell the tales of the creators and their motives can be seen in these hills and the mystery of the dead is unraveled. The monoliths are also treated as a place where a passerby can rest.

A delicate and intricately woven strand of belief is wrapped around the lives of these people. The culture filled architecture is unique in itself and parallels can never be drawn to it with other cultures around the world. The respect for the dead can be seen in the living in Meghalaya which truly is a place of wonder. Nartiang, a place in Jaintia Hills is famous for its beautiful monoliths and it still has an aura of mystery.

The divine beauty of Meghalaya or ‘the land of green magic’ can be seen through the art and architecture which forms the essence of the culture. Here, monoliths are considered as the basic form of ‘life after death’.