Rain harvesting work reveals megalithic burial site

Sub: History

Sec: Ancient History

Context:

A rainwater harvesting project in Koduvayur, Kerala unearthed a large number megalithic of urn burials.
The site is on the Kundlikkad hill, also known as Malampalla or Malappuram hills in the Kollengode range of the Nenmara forest division.

Key Findings:

The burials may go back to more than 2,500 years.
In most hill sites, we see cairn heaps with cists and cairn circles and stone circles containing cists and dolmens. But on this hill, an unusually large number of classic urn burials were found.
Archaeologists suggest that discovery could throw significant insight into links between Mesolithic and iron age periods in Kerala.

Megalithic culture:

The term “Megalith” is derived from the Greek words “mega” (large) and “lithos” (stone), meaning large stone structures, often associated with burials.
While megalith is often used to describe a single piece of stone, it also can be used to denote one or more rocks hewn in a definite shape for special purposes.
Megalithic culture refers to a period characterized by the use of large stones for monuments and burial practices.

Timeline:

Megaliths in India are dated before 3000 BC, with recent findings dated back to 5000 BC in southern India.
Coincides with the Iron Age in the Indian subcontinent.

Geographical Spread:

Found extensively in peninsular India, especially in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
They are also found in the upper Indus valley and central India.

Types of Megaliths:

Menhirs: Single standing stones, often for commemorative or religious purposes.
Dolmens: A table-like structure formed by placing a large flat stone on top of upright stones, used as burial sites.
Cairns: Stone heaps or piles used to mark graves.
Stone Circles: Circular arrangements of stones around burial sites.
Capstone style: Single megaliths placed horizontally, often over burial chambers, without the use of support stones.
Cist: A small stone-built coffin-like box or ossuary used to hold the bodies of the dead.