In a surprising discovery, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered a cluster of over 100 megaliths near the Malampuzha dam in Palakkad, Kerala, during a recent exploration expedition.
Posting on the official ASIGoI account on X (formerly Twitter), the organisation said, “Recent explorations near the Malampuzha dam in Palakkad, Kerala has led to a fascinating discovery of megalithic structures spread across island-like mounds. The team of Archaeological Survey of India surveyed the area and came across more than 110 megaliths spread across 45 hectares of land.”
It further added: “The finding of such a large number of megalithic burials in clusters is expected to add further insights about early Iron Age society and belief system in Kerala.”
Megalithic structures are burial chambers built using large, often rough stones without mortar or cement. They were common during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.
The ASI said that most of the burials are of the cists variety—both single and multiple chambered—stone circles, urns, dolmens, and solenoid cists. The structures were primarily constructed with massive granite slabs and boulders, with some also incorporating laterite stones, the ASI said in a post. A cist grave is a small stone-built coffin-like box or ossuary used to hold the bodies of the dead.
Megaliths are found across India (such as these ones), particularly in southern India. Notably, the recent findings come weeks after the ASI discovered ancient inscriptions at Kadapa's Lankamala Reserve Forest in Andhra Pradesh. The survey also found rock art thought to be from the megalithic period.
During the survey, three rock shelters were discovered. Officials said that one of these contained stunning prehistoric paintings depicting animals, geometric patterns, and human figures. The paintings, dating back to the Megalithic (Iron Age) and early periods (2500 BCE-2nd century CE), were created using natural materials like red ochre, kaolin, animal fat, and crushed bones.
The rock inscriptions, dating between 4th and 16th century CE, suggest that Lankamala was a major Shaivite pilgrim centre regularly visited by devotees from north India.
The survey, which took place between February 27 and March 1 in the rugged terrain of Nityapujakona, Akkadevatala Konda, and Bandigani Chella, located south of Srisailam, examined nearly 30 inscriptions in the reserve forest.
Archaeologists said the texts provide valuable insights into the region's past, shedding light on its history, culture, and traditions.
(With inputs from multiple reports)