2,000-year-old Megalithic burial chamber discovered in Kerala's Kanhangad
A laterite burial chamber estimated to be around 2,000 years old has been discovered at Nittadukkam in Kanhangad municipality in Kerala's Kasaragod district. The find provides fresh evidence that the area was inhabited during the megalithic period, a significant phase in the region's ancient history.
The chamber was found on the property of N. Sajith Kumar, an information technology professional residing at Chithira in Nittadukkam. Initial inspection by Nandakumar Koroth, a history researcher and head of the Department of History at Nehru Arts and Science College, Kanhangad, identified the structure as a rock-cut megalithic burial. Officials from the Kerala State Department of Archaeology later confirmed that it could indeed be a megalithic chamber.
The structure has been carved directly into laterite rock and features a circular interior. Its entrance is currently sealed with stones, while a portion that would typically have steps leading to the chamber is covered with soil. A circular opening measuring about 50 cm in diameter is located in the centre of the upper section. The original stone slab used to cover this opening lies on the ground nearby. According to the property owners, a large rock was placed over the opening about 75 years ago in place of the original slab. The chamber is currently filled with soil, making it impossible to determine whether pottery or other burial objects remain inside.
Megalithic burial chambers were traditionally constructed for funeral purposes. Historians note that ash, bones, pottery, iron weapons, and other objects were often placed inside as part of burial rituals. These monuments are generally believed to have been built before the third century AD, offering a window into the funerary practices of early human settlements in the region.
The discovery adds to the archaeological significance of Kanhangad, which already includes the Hosdurg Fort built in 1731, remnants associated with 17th and 18th century military expeditions, traditional nalukettu houses, and places of worship. The burial chamber suggests that human settlement in this area dates back nearly two millennia, far earlier than many previously known structures.
Mr. Koroth noted that the monument at Nittadukkam has survived largely due to local beliefs surrounding it. He considers it one of the oldest surviving indicators of Kanhangad's human past. In local parlance, structures of this type are known by various names, including Muniyara, Pandava Guha, Paranki Guha, Muthalpetti, Nidhikuzhi, and Kaippathayam, reflecting the cultural traditions attached to them across different communities.
Kasaragod district has previously yielded several types of megalithic monuments, including rock-cut burial chambers, dolmens, umbrella stones, capstones, urn burials, stone circles, and rock paintings. These findings highlight the region's rich prehistoric and early historic archaeological heritage. The latest discovery at Nittadukkam is expected to prompt further studies and possibly systematic documentation by archaeological authorities.
The find also underscores the importance of safeguarding such sites from modern development. Archaeologists emphasise that accidental discoveries during construction or land-use changes need proper reporting to ensure that India's ancient heritage is not lost. The Nittadukkam chamber, having remained concealed for centuries, now offers a rare opportunity to deepen our understanding of early human life along the Malabar coast.
