The need for expediting steps to conserve the petroglyphs in the Edakkal rock shelter on the Ambukuthi Hills was stressed at a two-day national conference that began at Sulthan Bathery on Tuesday.
Speaking after inaugurating the programme, being organised by the Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, M.G.S. Narayanan, former chairman, Indian Council of Historical Research, said as the monument had been facing threat from the quarry lobby, the government should adopt speedy steps for its conservation.
Four decades ago, when the monument had faced a similar threat from a lobby, with the support of politicians including a former Chief Minister, the intervention of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi helped protect it, Dr. Narayanan, who had played a major role in its conservation, said.
“Granite mining near the cave has been temporarily stopped after the recent intervention of the district administration. If mining resumed, it will mean the death knell for the monument,” he said.
Study needed
M. Sreenathan, Head, Department of Linguistics, Malayalam University, said a comprehensive study was needed to reveal the exact meanings of the petroglyphs.
The State Archaeology Department should hand over the control of the monument to the Archaeological Survey of India for the purpose, he said.
He said such a study would help the monument get the World Heritage tag.
University Vice Chancellor K. Jayakumar who presided over the function said it was planning to organise a cultural heritage survey on Edakkal Caves, with the assistance of various government agencies. The seminar was a starting point to this, he said.
Y. Subbarayalu, Associated Researcher, French Institute of Pondicherry, handled a session on graffiti and Brahmi scripts with special reference to the Edakkal petroglyphs.
