A team of archaeologists have surveyed over 400 monuments of the prehistoric period in Devikulam taluk as part a project to document megalithic sites in Idukki district.
The project, taken up to document remains including burial urns, dolmen, stone cist and artefacts of the megalithic period, surveyed Marayur, Koviloor and Kanthallur areas in the first phase. Most of the remains were found to be in a state of ruin, with time and human interference inflicting damage. The survey threw light on the methods used by prehistoric men for burial.
Kerala State Archaeological Department Director K.K. Mohanan Pillai told The Hindu on Wednesday that the survey would mark the areas which needed further exploration. The findings from the sites would be scientifically preserved.
“It is for the first time in the State that different types of burial sites were found clustered in a specific area,” said E. Dinesan, an archaeologist and field co-ordinator of the project. Primary data showed that Devikulam has perhaps the largest collection of varied burial sites — dolmens, burials urns and single upright stones. In other megalithic sites in the State, only single specimens were found.
The team also inspected three rock-shelter sites in Alampetty. The survey, which began on February 26, will continue in other regions of historic importance. It would cover all taluks in the district, Mr. Mohanan Pillai said. The project was being undertaken with the cooperation of the Forest Department as some areas of archaeological importance were inside the forest, he said. The department would start documenting historically important sites of the entire State from next year. Areas identified as most important historic sites would be protected.
