Ancient laterite rock-cut chamber unearthed at Panayal in Kasaragod

A laterite rock-cut chamber, believed to beryllium astir 2,000 years aged and linked to the Megalithic period, was unearthed connected Sunday (March 1) during excavation enactment for the operation of a compound partition astatine Panayal successful Kasaragod district.

The operation was discovered connected a spot owned by M. Madhusoodanan Nambiar and M. Parvathi Amma astatine Panayal nether Pallikkara grama panchayat.

Acting connected accusation provided by Chandran Panayal, a resident, Nandakumar Koroth, archaeologist and module subordinate of the History section astatine Nehru Arts and Science College, Kanhangad, inspected the tract and confirmed that the find is simply a Megalithic laterite rock-cut chamber.

Mr. Koroth said the circular interior enclosure had been carved retired of laterite rock, with its entranceway sealed by a chromatic slab. The information usually seen with steps remains buried nether soil. A circular aperture of astir 5 cm successful diameter is seen astatine the centre of the apical portion, designed to let a idiosyncratic to descend into the chamber. The chromatic slab that erstwhile sealed this opening was damaged during the excavation work. The shaft starring down is astir 3 feet deep, beneath which the circular burial enclosure is located. As the interior is filled with soil, nary urns oregon artefacts are presently visible.

Megalithic communities constructed specified chambers by interring pottery of varying shapes and sizes arsenic portion of ritual content systems. Locally, these chambers are known by names specified arsenic ‘Muniyara’, ‘Pandava cave’, ‘Peeranki cave’, ‘Nidhikuzhi’, and ‘Kalppathayam’.

Several umbrella stones, different signifier of Megalithic monument, proceed to past successful adjacent areas, including Munikkal, Karippadakam, and Kulathur. Across Kasaragod district, akin burial structures person earlier been reported from places specified arsenic Pilicode, Chadravayal, Pallipara, Ariyittapara, Pothamkandam, Panangad, Ummichipoyil, Thalayadukkam, Parappa, Bheemanady, Plachikkara, Kaniyala, Kuttikol, Kallanchira, Madikkai, and Paivalike.

Officials of the State Archaeology department, Kozhikode, visited the tract and inspected the chamber.

Megalithic period

K. Krishnaraj, archaeologist and serviceman successful complaint of the Pazhassi Raja Archaeological Museum, said the enclosure looked similar 1 from the Megalithic period. Further excavation volition beryllium done successful the coming days. “We are expecting that determination volition beryllium materials and evidence, which volition shed airy connected the past, helium said, adding that the operation of the partition had been stalled.