A Study on Megalithic…

Megalithic Culture of Marayoor

Marayoor is known for dolmen type burials. Marayoor’s megalithic remains include dolmens, cists, menhirs, and urn burials.

Dolmens

Dolmens are table-shaped stone monuments occurring in prehistoric graves. In Maraiyur, they occur in three types: single dolmens, enclosure wall dolmens, and low-type dolmens. Single dolmens are box-shaped structures constructed of four orthostatic slabs overlaying another slab at the top called a capstone. The single dolmens typically occur in the north-south direction. Enclosure-wall dolmens contain two to eight chambers and are built from over six slabs. A noteworthy aspect of the Maraiyur dolmens is the enclosure wall, a fortification-type stone railing or packing surrounded by the complex. Low-type enclosure-wall dolmens are low or small-type dolmens with orthostatic slabs measuring less than 1 m in height. The side scores more than two slabs or boulders. The diverse dolmens at Marayoor indicate its significance as a megalithic hub in South India. Marayoor’s architectural diversity, including enclosure walls and miniature dolmens, distinguishes it from other megalithic sites.

Cist

Cists are stone box-like tombs buried on the ground, referred to as ‘Nilaperu’ in Maraiyur. They are rarer than dolmens and occur in regions with greater soil, such as hill slopes and plains. There are two varieties: simple cists, which are single-chambered with or without a porthole, and cists with stone circles, which are multi-chambered and have a stone or slab circle surrounding them. Certain cists also contain a menhir placed before them, indicating a relationship between the two structures.

Urn Burial

Local terms for urn burial are “Sollnagadi” or “Muthumakkalthali.” These are prevalent as a burial style in Marayoor. Most contain human remains and are found in pits or cist burials. On Tampi’s field study, an urn burial was revealed from the courtyard of the former primary school building. The urn, having a wide neck and rounded edge, held rusted iron tools, such as long spear-shaped blades of about 54 cm in length. Recent excavations at Japattikoda in Marayoor village have also uncovered an urn from a field. A hole is observed in the bottom, 14 cm in diameter. Further excavations in the nearby area resulted in the unearthing of over six urns buried with capstones.

Menhirs

Menhirs consist of a single, upright stone located in numerous sites, with some of them having association with burials or other important places. In the Anjunad Valley, menhirs are more scarce and normally consist of raw, unworked stones vertically erected in the ground. They rarely have any related artifacts and sometimes occur around cists. Menhirs have also been found elsewhere in Maraiyur, like the Karsinad village area, Karayoor in Kanthaloor village, and Chambakkad within the Chinnar area where it is identified as Nattukal Mantha and where it is the object of adoration by Hill Pulayan tribe.

Archaelogical Remains in the Megaliths

Tools like spear-shaped blades, daggers, and arrowheads have been found within the urn graves and dolmens. Shards of Black-and-Red ware and Red ware pottery are most frequently found particularly in the urn graves. Personal adornments like carnelian beads have been found showing use of jewelry for burial purposes. Fragmentary human bones confirm their use as burial sites.These remains are of significant importance in learning about the life of the people who built the megalithic monuments and their funerary practices.