Kerala: 2000-year-old megalithic remains discovered during pipeline work!

In a surprising development, a huge number of megalithic hat stones (laterite stones used as lid on burial urns) were discovered from a single site during a recent archaeological salvage excavation, conducted by the State Archaeology Department at Nagaparamba in Kuttippuram village, near Thirunavaya, in the district.

Popularly known as Thoppikkallu in Malayalam, these hat stones are actually hemispherical laterite stones that were used during the megalithic period as lid on burial urns.
If we go by what archaeologists have to say, it could arguably be the largest number of hat stones found in an unprotected site in the state. It’s also likely that many hat stones have so far been destroyed inadvertently in recent times by the local people. When locals were asked about these hat stones, they said they had no idea about the archaeological relevance of the hat stones and that when they cleared their land for house construction many such stones were destroyed.

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Revealing more on this, archaeologist K. Krishnaraj, officer in charge of the Pazhassi Raja Archaeological Museum, Kozhikode, who led the recent salvage excavation, stated that they need to conduct a detailed survey and document the finds as well as the site.

All you need to know about the discovery

A huge number of megalithic burial sites and relics were discovered at Nagaparamba during the salvage excavation. Reports add that Krishnaraj and colleagues were called in, when a unique rock cut laterite burial chamber was found during some pipeline work. They then unearthed a number of earthen urns and iron implements with unique features, which could likely throw light on the life and culture of people who lived in those parts more than 2,000 years ago.

Krishnaraj further added that the architectural features of the rock cut cave are different, and that the recovered ones too were different from the usual urns found in such sites.

He further informed that ashes were found in the pots recovered from the chamber as well as from under the hat stones, which according to him are special.

The locals here in the neighbourhood are excited about the findings and the hemispherical hat stones recovered from Nagaparamba. Some even think that the government should consider the historical significance of Thirunavaya on the banks of the Bharathapuzha and declare it as a heritage village.