Megalithic Burial Site

18 Sep 2024

A rainwater harvesting project by the Koduvayur grama panchayat led to the discovery of many megalithic urn burials.

About Megalith

  • It is a large stone used to build an ancient structure or monument, either by itself or with other stones.
  • Types of Megaliths
    • Underground components: 
      • Pit burials: These are unlined pits where bodies of one or more dead persons are buried.
      • Cist burials: stone-lined underground grave, usually rectangular in plan.
      • Urn burials:  Mortal remains in terracotta urns.
      • Sarcophagus burials: These are terracotta receptacles with lids,  sometimes shaped like animals. 
    • Surface Components: 
      • Menhirs: single stone, unshaped or minimally altered natural boulders.
        • often used as markers or memorials. 
      • Boulder circles: These are the circular arrangements of rocks or boulders. 
        • It marks burial sites. 
      • Cairns: Earth mounds,  often cover burials or other structures.
      • Dolmenoid cists: It is a partially underground stone structure with a capstone. 
      • Dolmens: It is a large freestanding stone structure that has capstone. 

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Key findings of the megalithic burial site

  • These urns were found on Kundlikkad hill, in the Kollengode range of Nenmara forest, Palakkad district, Kerala.
About Urn burials

  • Urn burials refer to a burial practice where ashes and bones are placed in a pottery vessel, typically after cremation. 
  • Archaeological Importance:
    • These urns could provide valuable information about the connection between the Mesolithic and Iron Age periods in Kerala.
      • Finding such urns on a hilltop is rare since most burial sites are usually found in lower areas.
  • Estimated Age of the Burials: The burials are believed to be over 2,500 years old.
  • Unique Findings on the Hill: Most hill sites in Kerala feature cairn heaps, cists, and stone circles with dolmens, but this site contained an unusually large number of classic urn burials.
  • Damage During Digging:
    • Several urns were broken when labourers dug pits for rainwater harvesting. 
    • One urn burial remained intact with its capstone, and many pottery fragments (black ware, red ware, and black-and-red ware) were found in the area.

Features of the Urns and Pottery

  • Size and Thickness: The ancient builders used large urns that were 8 mm to 2 cm thick.
  • Fingerprint Marks and Designs: Some urns had fingerprint impressions, and smaller pots had cord-impressed designs.
  • Use of Chisels: Marks on the rocks show that chisels were used to create the capstones and stones that circled the urns.

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Key Megalithic Sites Across India

  • Jharkhand: Seraikala
  • Uttarakhand: Deodhoora (Almora district)
  • Uttar Pradesh: Koldihwa (Belan Valley), Banda, Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Varanasi (Chalcolithic materials)
  • Kerala: Thrissur, Kunnattur
  • Kashmir: Waztal, Burzahom, Brah
  • Karnataka: Maski, Hallur, Chandravalli, Hire Benkal, Coorg, Heggadehalli, Brahmagiri
  • Andhra Pradesh: Nagarjunakonda
  • Maharashtra: Junapani, Khapa, Mahurjhari, Naikund (near Nagpur), Pune district
  • Tamil Nadu: Adichanallur, Sanur, Kodumanal, Perumbair

 

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