Summary
Summary - History 25 (HIS102)
- Course
- Institution
Summary of 13 pages for the course History 25 at Calicut University (Copy)
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
krishnas1
Content preview
Module 2 - Kerala Megalithic Period (First Sem - Calicut University )Reference Nots - 2024-25
2.1: Introduction
The prehistoric cultures in Kerala consist of Palacolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic.During these periods, man
engaged in a combination of hunting. gathering, animalhusbandry and agriculture. The prehistoric period
also witnessed the cave art or rock art in Kerala which are the artistic expression and material culture of
the man in those days. The first rock art site in Kerala discovered by F. Fawcet, the then superintendent
of police of theerstwhile Malabar at Edakkal in modern Wayanad District. Then Dr. S. Padmanabhan
Thampi discovered Mesolithic cave art at Marayur in Anjunadu Valley in Idukki district ofKerala which help
us to reconstruct the material life and culture of the prehistoric period.
During the period of Palaeolithic culture in Kerala, man engaged themselves inhunting-gathering for his
subsistence. The first discovery of palaeolithic tools andimplements from Kanhirapuzha in the Palakkad
district in 1974 by P. Rajendran.' In addition to this, there are more sites discovered by him. They are
Tenkara and Mukkali in Palakkaddistrict, Kunnathubhalu, Valluvasseri, Karimpulakkal and Karalikkot in
Malappuram district,Kunnoni in Kottayam district and Kuvakkad and Abhayagiri in Kollam district. The
Palacolithic implements of Kerala are mostly represented by chopper scrapper flake assemblage made of
quartz." These tools were used by the Palaeolithic men for hissubsistence.
During the Mesolithic culture in Kerala, man engaged in hunting and gathering and used the implements
made of quartz. The mesolithic sites of Kerala includes Nirmalagiri and Madayippara in Kannur district,
Walayar, Malampuzha, Podippara, Mankara, Kulappalli,Cherakkalppadi, Ayannur, Agali, Narasimokkai and
Sirakkadavu in Palakkadu district,Chellur and Pandikkad in Malappuram district, Chempara and Kuppakotti
in Wayanadudistrict, Tenmala and Odanavattom in Kollam district and Ankode and Neyyar in Trivandrum
district."This period also witnessed the cave art in Kerala. They include Tenmala petroglyph in Kollam
district, Ankode petroglyph in Trivandrum district and the petrographs and petroglyph at Marayur in
Anjunadu Valley
In Neolithic period in Kerala, man used stone axes, flakes, blades and beads. Philip Lake first discovered
Neolithic axes from the foot of Kannyakad hills in Kerala. Later,Logan and Fawcett had discovered a few
quarts flakes, a fragment of a Neolithic celt and a couple of beads from the Wayanad area." After that in
1989, a Neolithic Axe was discovered from Mantrothuruth in the Kallada basin in the Kollam District, by P.
Rajendran, probablythe first discovery of a Neolithic implement from southern Kerala.' During this period,
, man invented agriculture, domesticated animals, manufactured earthern pots, fabricated cloths,and made
use of fire for cooking. The Edakkal petroglyph may belong to the artistic expression of this period.
From the above mentioned facts, it is clear that the prehistoric man engaged in a combination of hunting.
gathering, animal husbandry and agriculture. Their tools and implements help us to reconstruct the
material milieu of subsistence of the people of the then periods. As mentioned carlier, the prehistoric men
used rock art as a medium of people 's simaginary relations, magic, witchcraft and fantasies as well as
social and material milieu of ideas and institutions. There are four rock art sites in Kerala. They are
Edakkal and Tovari in Wayanadu district, Tenmala in Kollam district, Ankodu in Trivandrum district and
AnjunaduValley in Idukki district. These rock art represents the material life and culture of the prehistoric
man.
The Edakkal rock shelter was discovered by FFawcet in 1894. The Edakkal petroglyph consists of
geometric and non - geometric motives, besides floral and faunal representations. Animals such as
elephant, antelope, wild dog and peacock are significant depictions. Similar animal figures can be seen at
Anjunadu Valley rock paintings. Tenmala rock shelter is situated in the Chentharuni hills in the eastern part
of Kollam district. There are a few geometric patterns like triangle, circle and squares and flower motifs."
Similar type of flower motifs can be seen at Anjunadu valley paintings and petroglyph. The Ankodu
petrograph is situated at Neyyantinkara in Trivandrum district. The carving consists of floral geometric
and Vattezhuthu types. The Tovari petroglyph is situated in Tovari hills in Wayanadu. The site is generally
known among local people as Ezhuthupura' or house with writing. The drawings mainly consist of
geometric figures like triangles, squares and circles.
In Kerala petrograph and petroglyph site are reported only in the Anjunadu Valley inIdukki district. The rock
art site was discovered for the first time by S. Padmanabhan Thampi in 1973. Later Benny Kurian, the Eco-
volunteers of Alampatty Tribal Settlement and villagers of Vannanthurai discovered other sites. The
discovery of the rock art sites ofthe valley brought a place in the prehistory of Kerala. The rock art help
us to reconstruct theculture and material life of the prehistoric man in the Valley
Summary and Main Points
The text discusses the prehistoric cultures in Kerala, spanning the Paleolithic,
Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods. During these eras, early humans engaged in
hunting, gathering, animal husbandry, and agriculture, with notable developments
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller krishnas1. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.89. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
75759 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now