Menhir and megalithic burial sites declared as protected monuments at Kodumanal

A board asserting the menhir as a protected monument has been positioned at Kodumanal in Erode district.
| Photo Credit: M. GOVARTHAN

The Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology has declared 5 ‘menhir’ (single stone) and megalithic burial sites at Kodumanal in Erode district as protected monuments.

It has lately positioned two noticeboards at the sites, asserting a ban on mining and building in a 200-metre radius.

Kodumanal, situated on the northern banks of the Noyyal and about 42 km from Erode, made it to the archaeology map in 1961 when the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) began the primary dig after noticing vintage supplies scattered throughout the barren land of the village.

Since 1985, 10 seasons of excavations have been carried out on almost 25 acres of personal and poramboke land. Semi-precious stone beads, bangles, copper, silver, iron, and terracotta are among the many gadgets unearthed through the excavations carried out by the ASI as properly as the State Department of Archaeology.

Findings

Potsherds containing names inscribed in Tamil-Brahmi script have been present in a big quantity, aside from Roman silver cash, valuable stones and quartz. These findings confirmed that an industrial and commerce centre had existed right here about 2,300 years in the past. The final excavation, led by J. Ranjith, Archaeology Officer and Project Director for the excavation throughout which a construction much like a stepwell was unearthed, concluded on September 30, 2021.

In the 2021 Budget, the State authorities introduced that Kodumanal could be declared a protected archaeological web site. A preliminary notification was issued then. On November 30, 2022, the federal government notified 5 sites — menhir (standing stone) on authorities poramboke ‘vandi pathai’ (a cart observe) to the extent of 0.20 hectare to 0.34 hectare; a habitation web site on 2.4 hectares of PWD land; two megalithic burial sites on 2.5 hectares and 2.68 hectares of PWD land respectively; and a megalithic burial web site on 2.3 hectares of presidency land (‘natham’).

A current authorities order declared the sites protected monuments. A group from the Archaeology Department visited the village and put in two noticeboards: one close to the menhir and the opposite outdoors a burial web site on the PWD land. Three extra noticeboards will probably be positioned quickly, sources stated.

The announcement on the boards says these are the monuments of historic significance beneath Tamil Nadu Act 25, of 1966, and warns individuals in opposition to destroying, eradicating or misusing them, and in opposition to mining or building within the areas marked out.