Newspaper

Description

"Megalithic Discovery: Unearthing Ancient Hat Stones and Artifacts in Kerala's Nagaparamba Site"

Description: "A remarkable archaeological find in Nagaparamba, Kerala reveals numerous megalithic hat stones, burial urns, and unique iron tools shedding light on a 2,000-year-old culture. Explore the significance of Thoppikkallu, or hat stones, and their role in the megalithic period.

Thoppikkallu 

Recently, a large number of megalithic hat stones were found in a single site-Nagaparamba, in Kuttippuram village, near Thirunavaya, on the banks of the Bharathapuzha river in Kerala.

A large number of earthen urns and iron implements were also found with unique features, which could ostensibly throw light on the life and culture of people who lived in those parts more than 2,000 years ago.

Hat stones, also known by the common name of Thoppikkallu in Malayalam, are hemispherical laterite stones used as lid on burial urns during the megalithic period.

Archaeologists say it could arguably be the largest number of hat stones in an unprotected site in the State.

About Megalithic Period

•  The word 'megalith' is derived from the Latin mega (large) and lith (stone).

•  Megaliths were constructed either as burial sites or as commemorative memorials. 

•  These are sites with actual burial remains, such as dolmenoid cists (box-shaped), cairn circles (stone circles) and capstones ( mushroom-shaped burials found mainly in Kerala). 

The urn containing the mortal remains was usually made of terracotta. Commemorative  megaliths include memorial sites such as menhirs. 

It is to be noted that this megalithic culture lasted from the Neolithic Stone Age to the early Historical Period (2500 BC to AD 200) across the world. 

In India, archaeologists trace the majority of the megaliths to the Iron Age (1500 BC to 500 BC), though some sites precede the Iron Age, extending up to 2000 BC.

•  Megaliths are found to be spread across the Indian subcontinent, though the bulk of them are found in peninsular India (around 2,200 megalithic sites), concentrated in the states of Maharashtra (mainly in Vidarbha), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

•  Even today, a living megalithic culture endures among some tribes such as the Gonds of central India and the Khasis of Meghalaya.

•  The idea of burying the dead along with burial goods indicates strong belief in life after death and possibly rebirth among megalithic people. 

•  In peninsular India, Megaliths are associated with a characteristic wheel-made pottery type known as Black and Red Ware, which is found across sites.

•  In fact, megalithic culture finds several references in ancient Tamil Sangam literature. For instance, menhirs are referred to as nadukal, a memorial stone in honour of a fallen hero.