HAT STONES
WHY IN NEWS ?
- Recently,a large number of megalithic hat stones were found from a single site during a recent archaeological salvage excavation.
ABOUT MEGALITHIC HAT STONES:
- A large number of megalithic hat stones were found from a single site during a recent archaeological salvage excavation conducted by the State Archaeology Department at Nagaparamba in Kuttippuram village, near Tirunavaya, in the district.
- Hat stones, popularly called Thoppikkallu in Malayalam, are hemispherical laterite stones used as lid on burial urns during the megalithic period.
- Archaeologists say it could arguably be the largest number of hat stones in an unprotected site in the State.
- Unfortunately, many of these hat stones were unintentionally damaged or destroyed by local residents while clearing land for construction purposes.
- These individuals were unaware of the historical significance of these artifacts.
ABOUT BURIAL SITES:
- A large number of megalithic burial sites and relics were found at Nagaparamba during the salvage excavation.
- The architectural features of the rock cut cave are different. The pots we recovered too are different from the usual urns found in such sites.
- Ashes were found in the pots recovered from the chamber as well as from under the hat stones.
- The findings may throw light on the life and culture of people who lived in those parts more than 2,000 years ago.
- Local people say government should consider the historic significance of Tirunavaya on the banks of Bharathapuzha and declare it as a heritage village
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