Burial Hillocks in Wayanad
Authors :Vinoy Joseph
Abstract
Iron Age remains in Wayanad seem to have been the result of the co-mingling of cultures who were engaged in what may be referred as unilateral settlements. A number of megalithic remains have been found from Wayanad region by the archaeologists and the common people. Recent studies conducted on the topic reveals that there existed granite cemeteries and urn burial hillocks in Wayanad region. The attention given to the southern megalithic map of Kerala by the second half of the twentieth century resulted in neglecting of the abundant Iron Age remains lying west of Brahmagiri and North of Nilgiris, trapped in Wayanad region, facing ruthless destruction! The contents of the graves and urns are highly urbane in characteristics as noted by the pioneers of excavations in this region. A number of curios, taken back to London Museum by the colonial masters point out to the existence of a type of early exchange in which the profit must have been one sided. Though the idea has a tinge of the reflection of colonial orientalist views, study of the remains on a multi-disciplinary approach might yield a different result. This paper tries to gather and share some thoughts regarding the Iron Age remains of Wayanad and its contact with the coastal belt connecting them to the location of granite burials and urn burials.
Key words: Wayanad, megalithis remains, Iron age remains
