Megalithic tomb unearthed at Thiruvannamalai



A megalithic tomb that was unearthed in Thiruvannamalai district; and some pottery and iron items that were found inside the tomb


VELLORE: A recent excavation in Sambandhanur village in Thiruvannamalai district that was intially claimed to be an urn, possibly belonging to megalithic period, is actually a Kallarai - (Kal meaning stone and Arai meaning room) or tomb, according to some of the historians here. The burial site was unearthed a couple of weeks back when locals dug the site using a boclain to excavate foundation for a temple. The tomb, first to be excavated in the region, was possibly built on the ground level years back might have gone below over the years, they said. The huge tomb had a capstone (covering portion) as thick as three feet and measured 15 feet wide. The inner portion of the tomb was six feet high, eight feet wide and 10 feet long. Curator of the Vellore Government Museum Saravanan estimated that Megalithic culture (when people used huge stones) in the North Arcot region dating back to 350 BC to 260 BC. Urns were used at a much later stage. Going by the look, tomb of this size must have been built to bury the leader of a village or group. Interestingly there was a small provision on the top of the tomb with an opening big enough for a person to get into and perform the rituals for the deceased. The fact that two swords, three daggers and two axes, made of iron were found inside the tomb also reveals the practice of the people of that age to burry the things used by the persons along with their bodies believing that their spirits might use them.