Archaeological wonders discovered by Dr. P. Rajendran at different ...

Archaeological wonders discovered by Dr. P. Rajendran
G. Asokan
at different sites in Kerala
Dr. P. Rajendran took M.A & Ph.D in Archaeology from the dept.
of Archaeology in Deccan College of Poona University. After 18 years of
full time research in Deccan College, he joined in the Dept. of Ancient
History, Culture and Archaeology in Madras University on April 1988, as
Excavation-in-charge. By the time he was selected by the UGC as a
Research Scientist-B (Reader grade). Following that he has resigned from
Madras University on 18 th September 1988 and then joined in the Dept. of
History at Kariyavattom in Kerala University as a Research Scientist-B
on 26 th Sept. 1988. In 1993 UGC has promoted him to the professor grade
and still continuing. He is one among the few archaeologists in India
whose sincere and dedicated service deserves special mention. He has
more than eighty papers published in Regional, National and International
journals besides an author of an authoritative archaeology book – THE
PREHISTORIC CULTURES AND ENVIRONMENT (A case study of
Kerala), published by M/s Classical publishing company New Delhi in
1989. Another book ‘Unique Discovery of Laterite Baby fossil from Odai
in Tamil Nadu, South India’ is in print. It is, for the first time, a human
fossil which has been discovered within the laterite, and has been dated to
0.166M.Y, belongs to the Home sapiens (archaic) in the human evolution.
His research work has made many break thoroughs and has resulted in the
introduction of Degree and P.G. Courses in archeology, for the first time,
in various Universities of Kerala.
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Pl. 1
(Dr. P. Rajendran taking a Photograph of Cist Burial excavation at
Arippa)
Tourists, archaeologists, historians, environmentalists, students,
research scholars, teachers and the general public get valuable
information from his varied discoveries. A few of them are mentioned
below in a concise way.
N.B: All the illustrations given below belong to Dr. P. Rajendran’s
discoveries.
Pl. 2 Pl. 3
Stone Age cultural evidences from different parts of Kerala
Palaeolithic tools from North Kerala (Lakhs of years old)
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Trivandrum District
Pl. 4
Ankode Rock Shelter (Pandavanpara)
Mesolithic Carvings (Petroglyphs)
Located at Perumkadavila of Neyyantinkara taluk, it is at an
elevation of 1000ft above sea level.
The engravings consist of decorative floral designs, geometric
forms, flower motif, wheel motif, vattazhuthu, etc. on the interior walls of
the shelter.
Tools of the Mesolithic period (3000-10,000 B.C)
Dr. Rajendran from Ankode rock shelter
Pl. 5 Pl. 6
Mesolithic tools from Mesolithic tools from
Ankode Rock Shelter North Kerala
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Neolithic Axes of less than 4000 B.C discovered by V.L. Divya
Vembyam who was a History student in Kerala University
Pl. 7 Pl. 8
Quilon District
The excavation within a rock-shelter at Thenmala on the north
western part of river Shendurunny revealed that a stones age culture of
the Mesolithic period once flourished here.
It also sheds light on the fact that Shenduruuny river valley
civilization dates back to 5210 B.P (3210 B.C) by C-14 which is older
than the Indus valley civilization. The carvings of the same period are
seen on the exterior surface of the shelter which glorify the Mesolithic art
in Kerala.
The shelter found here can accommodate at least fifty people at a
time. According to Dr. Rajendran the marshy place seen below in front of
the cave might have been a lake in the past. Now Shendurnny crowns the
reputation that a civilization of the pre historic past nourished here, and
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the region has cultural evidences of the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and
Megalithic period.
Archeological discoveries of Dr. Rajendran at different sites in
Quilon district.
Pl. 9
Pl. 10
Petroglyphs (carvings) of the Mesolithic at Maruthimala of
Odanavattom near Kottarakkara
Palaeo river channel (lost river) at Urukunnu near Punalur
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Pl. 12
Two cists burials at Arippa near Madathara exhibiting Megalithic
Pl. 11
culture.
Dolmens at Marayoor, Idukki District
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Pl. 13
Pl. 14
Gold ear-rings from Arippa Cists burials near Kulathupuzha,
Kollam District
Copper bangle from Arippa
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Pl. 15
Pl. 16
Megalithic antequities from Arippa
Cereals from Arippa
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Pl. 17
Pl. 18
Pl. 19
Sickles from Arippa
Iron hoes from Arippa
Showing Mesolithic carvings at Tenmala rock shelter.
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Iron ingots (smelted iron) of the Megalithic Culture from Abhayagiri
Pl. 20
Pl. 21
near Tenmala
Menhirs at Ahayagiri near Tenmala, Megalithic culture.
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Pl. 22
Urn burial from Abhayagiri, Megalithic culture.
Human bones within a pot from Arippa cists burial of the Megalithic
culture.
Pl. 23 Pl. 24
A pot containing human remains Human bones seen within the pot
Pl. 25
Menhir at Kadavur, a Megalithic burial monument
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Menhir at Sathyanpara near Punalur, a Megalithic burial monument
Pl. 26
Rock-cut cave in Kuvakkad near Kulathupuzha having buddist trait
Pl. 27
12

Kottayam District
Pl. 28
Pl. 29
Neolithic Adze, made of quartz, discovered from Kunnoni of
south Poonjar.
Neolithic Axe, made of granite from Chembilavu, discovered by
Mr. Jose
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Trichur District
Hood stone, made of laterite from Cherumanangadu, Megalithic
Pl. 30
culture (

Pl.32
Laterite dome at Kuttikunnu near Sreekandapuram, Kannur
Pl. 33
District
Megalithic pottery, Kuttikunnu
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Pl. 34
Pl. 35
White Paintings on black polished megalithic pottery from
Kunnoni, Kottayam District
Black polished plate from Kunnoni
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Pl. 36
Pl. 37
Iron Implements from Kunnoni
Naga idols made of Iron from Kunnoni Cist burial, dated to
900 B.P
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Malappuram District
Pl. 38
A Photograph of the Nilambur tribe (Cholanayakas)
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