PALAKKAD: Several megalithic burial cists, which have survived the ravages of time, were found in the private compounds at Vettukadu, near Mannalur, in Thenkurissi panchayat in Alathur taluk. The site was discovered by Mr Vijayan, a native of Koottala.“Five burial cists with cap stones were found. The burial cist found in the compound of Rituvarnan has its northern side slab exposed to a height of 1.07 m. The cap stone of the cist, 2.2 m in length on the east-western direction, is used to cover the rectangular burial chamber erected with granite slabs on all four sides. The side slabs are 8-9 cm thick, whereas the capstone is 29 cm,”Government Victoria College assistant professor K Rajan said. Rajan added that the burial cists are typical megaliths of the Palakkad region, similar in many respects to those in the nearby sites located in Tamil Nadu. Rocky terrains in the Vettukadu region must have made it easier for the iron age people to cut the granite slabs required for constructing the cists,” he Rajan said. He, along with Muthalamada Higher Secondary School teacher M Krishnankutty, had conducted the exploration of the megalithic burial site.“Areas where village life has not yet come under the influence of urbanisation still protect their archaeological treasures. Found covered in thick vegetation, these remains have not been disturbed on account of variety of factors, “ said Rajan. “We didn’t disturb them because we thought something would happen to us if we do so. They are the remains of the dead,” said Radhakrishnan, showing some of the megalithic burial cists found in his compound at Vettukadu. Thenkurissi and Manjalur are known megalithic sites where dolmens and menhirs were found.“One peculiarity of the region is that the people have known all about the tradition of the megalithic burials. They narrated a tradition which tells us that in the distant past nobody died. Thus, the older people had to be put in large urns (nannangadis), which were covered with a stone so that they would not come out. They called the stone slabs of the burials ‘Kurukkankallu,” he said.The name ‘Moodukallu’ for capstones isgenerally used in the south including Tamil Nadu. What these indicate is the fact that the villagers of our state had knowledge of the burials and their importance. In urban areas, the settlers often feign ignorance of the megaliths or the legends connected to them. “Urbanisation is the greatest threat to the ancient remains. The reason why the Iron Age burial cists containing grave goods are found intact in the Vettukadu site as it has not been misused for housing and agricultural purposes. It is still a paddy belt. The houses are still surrounded by greenery that has not been cleared,” Rajan said.
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