Source: TH
Context: Megalithic carvings unearthed at Kanhirapoil, Kerala, reveal India’s rich prehistoric heritage, offering insights into ancient rituals and cultural practices.
About Kanhirapoil megalithic site:
- Discovery details: 24 pairs of carved footprints and a human figure were found on a private property in Madikkai grama panchayat, Kasaragod, Kerala.
- Artistic features: Carvings include footprints of varying sizes (6–10 inches), likely representing both children and adults, with a human figure accompanied by circular pits.
- Cultural parallels: The findings resemble prehistoric rock art at Avalakki Pera in Udupi and other sites in Kerala, including Edakkal Caves and Erikulam Valiyapara.
About Megaliths:
- Definition: Megaliths are monuments made of large stones, often serving as burial sites away from settlements.
- Chronology:
- Megalithic cultures in South India date from the 3rd B.C. to the 1st A.D. as per Brahmagiri excavations.
- Geographical spread:
- Found in Deccan (south of Godavari), Punjab Plains, Indo-Gangetic basin, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Burzahom in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Iron usage:
- A hallmark of this period, with iron tools for agriculture and weapons discovered across sites like Junapani (Vidarbha) and Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu).
- Cultural elements:
- Subsistence through agriculture, hunting, and animal husbandry; rock paintings depict hunting scenes, cattle raids, and group dances.
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