A Preliminary Report on Megalithic Sites from Udumbanchola Taluk of Idukki District, Kerala

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1 A Preliminary Report on Megalithic Sites from Udumbanchola Taluk of Idukki District, Kerala Sandra M. S. 1, Ajit Kumar 1, Rajesh S.V. 1 and Abhayan G. S Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom Campus, Thiruvananthapuram , Kerala, India ( sandrams815@gmail.com, ajitkumarku@gmail.com, rajeshkeraliyan@yahoo.co.in; abhayangs@gmail.com) Received: 15 November 2017; Revised: 02 December 2017; Accepted: 29 December 2017 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5 (2017): Abstract: As part of the MA Dissertation work, the first author explored the Udumbanchola taluk for megaliths. The exploration was productive and 41 new megalithic sites could be located. This article is a preliminary report on some interesting megalithic artifacts found during the exploration and also enlists the newly discovered sites. Keywords: Megalithic, Udumbanchola, Kallimali, Pot, Goblet, Neolithic Celt, Crucible Introduction Udumbanchola taluk ( N and E) is located in the Idukki district. Nedumkandam is the major town and administrative headquarter of Udumbanchola taluk. This taluk borders with Tamil Nadu on the east. Due to large scale of migration from other parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, this taluk is melting pot of Kerala and Tamil cultures. This area is also inhabited by various ethnic tribes like Mannan, Muthuvan, Urali, Paliyan, Hilpulayan, Malapandaram, Ulladan, Malayan etc. Some archaeological explorations have been conducted in the taluk in the past and 16 sites have been reported from here. Though the prehistory of the Idukki is still shrouded in obscurity, we get evidences of megalithic early historic cultures from Idukki district. Already 70 sites are reported from different taluks in Idukki district. There has been no serious attempt to understand the distribution pattern of megaliths in Udumbanchola taluk, which has areas inter spread with high hill ranges, valleys and plateau region. Explorations undertaken in the taluk by the first author have been very fruitful (explored 46 sites). In the explorations, 40 new megalithic sites have been brought to light from Udumbanchola taluk and typologically they include, menhir, urn burials, cists and dolmens (Figure 1 and Table 1). Excepting sites which are under worship, nearly all other sites are in various vandalized stages.

2 ISSN Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5: 2017 Figure 1: Distribution Map of Megalithic Sites in Udumbanchola Taluk Table 1: The List of Explored Sites in Udumbanchola Taluk Sl. No. Site Name Co ordinates Nature of Finds 1 Kuruvilacity Locality 1 N E Ruined Urns and disturbed menhirs 2 Kuruvilacity Locality 2 N Ruined Urn burials E Kuruvilacity Locality 3 N E Partially destroyed Menhirs 4 Manjakkuzhy N Intact menhirs E Muniyarachal N Destroyed menhirs E Kuruvilacity Locality 4 N Shattered menhirs E Poopara N Protected menhirs E Santhanpara N Protected Dolmen E Oonukal N Protected Menhirs E Sanyasippara N Ruined cist and urn 520

3 Sandra et al. 2017: E Kumbhappara N E Kallimali Locality 1 N E Kallimali Locality 2 N E Kallimali Locality 3 N E Kallimali Locality 4 N E Kuruvilacity Locality 4 N E Parathodu N E Karithodu N E Vedhagiri N E Anakallu N E Anakkara N E Santhigram N E Adayalakallu N E Njarakkulam N E KuruviKkanam N E Aruvilamchal Locality 1 N E Aruvilamchal Locality 2 N E Aruvilamchal Locality 3 N E Muniyarakunnu N E Mukkudil West N E Aavanakumchal N E burials Damaged menhirs and ruined urns Ruined Urn burial Ruined Urn burial Partially damaged Cist Unharmed Cist Destroyed Urn burial Protected Menhir and destroyed cist Disturbed Cists Damaged Urn burials Damaged Urn burials Damaged Urn burial Damaged Urn burial Preserved Menhir and Damaged urns Protected Menhir Destroyed Urn burials Destroyed Menhir and Urns Damaged Urn burials Partially damaged Menhirs Preserved Menhir and Urn burials Destroyed Urn burial Partially destroyed Menhir 521

4 ISSN Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5: Senapathy Locality 1 N E Senapathy Locality 2 N E Thottikkanam N E Pallikunnu N E Munippara N E Kuruvilacity Locality 5 N E B Division N E Bison Valley N E Mullanthandu Locality 1 N E Mullanthandu Locality 2 N E Mullanthandu Locality 3 N E Estate Poopara N E Mullakanam N E Kajanappara N E Kanthippara N E Ruined Urn burial Ruined Urn Burial Damaged menhirs Damaged Urn Burial Damaged Menhirs Damaged Menhirs Destroyed Urn burials and Menhirs Damaged Dolmens Protected Menhir Damaged Menhirs Destroyed Urn burial Partially damaged Menhirs Damaged Urn Burials Intact Menhir with inscription DamagedUrn burials and Menhirs Kallimali village in Udumbanchola taluk is very rich in megaliths and vestiges were noticed in four localities. Two localities have yielded remains of cist burials and two disturbed urns burials. Locals had collected archaeological artifacts from two localities and kept them in their premises and these were made available to the researcher for study. The megalithic artifacts collected from Locality I was kept by Shri. Anilkumar Puthenpurackal and they include a full red ware pot and a black and red ware goblet. In Locality II, Shri. Jose Pallipparambil had collected a crucible and small Celt from an urn burial accidently found while broadening a road and he was kind to part with it on request from the researcher. This article tries to briefly discuss these major finds (Red Ware Pot, Black and Red Ware Goblet, Neolithic Celt and Crucible) and its importance. 522

5 Sandra et al. 2017: Kallimali Locality 1 Red Ware Pot: This Red Ware pot weighs gm. It has 17.3 cm height and 10.5 cm rim diameter (Figure 1). The pot is made out of fine clay and has a smooth slip over the body. It has a dull red color. This pot has constricted neck, flaring rim and narrow mouth. It has globular body and slight round base. It is the typical megalithic pottery found in Idukki district and reported earlier from sites like Ramakkalmedu (Figure 3). Figure 2: Red Ware Pot from Kallimali Locality 1 Figure 3: Megalithic Pottery from Ramakkalmedu (Courtesy: The Hindu) 523

6 ISSN Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5: 2017 Black and Red Ware Goblet: Black and Red ware is the principle ceramic of megalithic culture. The popular shapes noticed in Black and Ware so far from Kerala is bowls of various shapes, miniature pots, lids and ring stands. Goblets in Black and Red ware have not so far been reported from megaliths in Kerala region. It measures 36.1 gm in weight (Figure 4). It has 12.8 cm height and has its rim has a diameter of 6.8 cms. Both slow wheel and hand technique was apparently used to make it. The lower portion (stem) is hollow. It has thin sharp incurved rim and convex side. The rim and internal surface is in black colour. The surface has red slip and it is burnished. Remains of ashes can be seen inside the vessel. The ash remains and the shape of the ware suggest that it may be used for interning corporal relics of the deceased. Similar shaped Goblet was reported from Adichanallur in Tamil Nadu (Leshnik 1974: 61, Fig.15.31). 524 Figure 4: Black and Red Ware Goblet from Kallimali Locality 1 Kallimali Locality 2 Neolithic Celt: From the fourth locality in Kallimali, a Neolithic (?) Celt and a crucible were found within an urn. The Celt is not very massive. It has gm weight and 8.6 cm length (Figure 5). The cutting edge is semicircular in shape and is not very sharp. Its size and shape suggest that it is not used as a cutting tool but apparently interned as a votive object. It is hard to guess the purpose of such internment. Celts were earlier reported from sites in Kunnathur district, Chengalpet and Ramapuram District, Kurnool (IAR and IAR ). The presence of Neolithic Celt in the megalithic context could be indicative of continuity of Neolithic traditions.

7 Sandra et al. 2017: Figure 5: Neolithic Celt from Kallimali Locality 2 Figure 6: Crucible from Kallimali Locality 2 Crucible: An ellipsoidal shaped ceramic crucible was also found from the site (Figure 6). It has gm weight, 7.4 cm rim diameter and 6.5 cm height. The surface of the crucible has thumb impressions, clearly indicating hand making technique of production. The external surface has red colour while the internal surface is black in 525

8 ISSN Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5: 2017 colour. This coarse crucible is very hard. The presence of crucible gives clues about the Metal working and the technological advancement acquired by the Iron Age people during that period. Discussion It is interesting to note that the menhirs in granite are the most prolific of the megalithic monuments in the area, may be because it rather easy to erect them, and raw material is available in plenty. Some of them are under worship and bear various names like Munikkallu, Masathikkallu, Veerakkallu, Pulachikkallu etc. Some of them have come under worship recently is obvious since the name they bear is written in modern Malayalam script. The cists which are the next in list of popularity are in various states of destruction and none of them were found to be intact. Most of them are oriented in the east west direction and are located in red soil tracts. The urn burials are represented by middle sized urns of coarse red ware. No urn burial was found intact. Large quantities of urn sherds were collected from the area. The size of the urns tentatively varies from 40 50cm in height. The coarse red ware pot found intact by the villagers is interesting. The pot does not seem to have been used for cooking and appears more like a symbolic pot interned with burial. Similar red ware pots have been reported from Ramakkalmedu in an excavation conducted by Shri. Rajesh (The Hindu ). The most important find is possibly the goblet. This goblet was apparently a relic holder as the villager who found it said that he found ash in it and still traces are visible. The goblet possibly had a lid and that is possibly the reason that red soil is absent inside and traces of ash is still visible at the bottom of the goblet. While no goblet shaped pottery in black and red ware with slip and vertically scrapped slip possibly to retain paintings in white has been reported from Megalithic assemblage in Kerala. Similar shaped pottery has been reported earlier from Palani hills and Adichanallur, but not sure if it was black and red ware (Leshnik Fig and15.31). Other two very interesting finds are the celt and the crucible. Earlier stray Celts have been reported from various parts of Kerala. Celts have been reported in association with megalithic burials. This Celt found from the urn burial given its size, nature and wear and tear does not seem to be used as an implement. It seems to have had some religious value for finding internment, which is now difficult to gauge. This Celt and its associated occurrence with megaliths again seem to pose a question of its Neolithic association in Kerala. In some tribal hamlets they found placed on pedestals and are under worship (Ambili ). The crucible in association with a megalithic urn burial is also bewildering. Similarly shaped bowls have been earlier reported. The thickness of the bowl seems to indicate 526

9 Sandra et al. 2017: that it could have been used as a crucible and indicates the possibility of iron working in the area. Conclusion Archaeological evidences indicate that the Idukki region has been thickly habited from Megalithic times. The hill ranges were major spice producing centres and the ancient trade route connecting western Indian ports with Madurai region passed through this area. The early historic antecedents of this area are from the various hoards of Roman coins found from the district (Kumar 2017). The latest explored finds from Udumbanchola taluk adds to the list of megalithic finds from Idukki. More works needs to be undertaken in the region and it will be perused with interest in future studies. References Ambily C.S Holocene Archaeology of Pamba Basin (Unpublished Phd Thesis). Department of Archaeology. University of Kerala. Kariavattom. Gurukkal, R and R Varier Cultural History of Kerala Volume 1. Thiruvananthapuram. Department of Cultural Publications, Government of Kerala. national/ kerala/ copper beads spring a surprise in megalithi c excavation/article ece Indian Archaeology A Review, and ASI. New Delhi. Kumar, Ajit Chola inscription on a Menhir from Mepara, Rajakumary Panchayath, Idukki district Kerala. Journal of Tamil Studies. International Institute of Tamil studies. Chennai Leshnik, S.Lawrence South Indian Megalithic Burial: the Pandukal Complex. Franz Steiner Verlag GmbH Weibaden Rajesh, T Idukki Charithrarekhakal (Mal), e lion Books. Kattappana. 527