Megalithic Culture of Kerala : A Study of Pamba River Basin

The present book deliberates in considerable detail the Megalithic culture of Kerala in general and Pamba River Basin in particular.

Sixty-five megalithic sites and five probable quarry sites reported from the Pamba River Basin so far are individually discussed. Based on the external features certain conclusions are derived such as typology of burial, distribution pattern, orientation of burials, their measurement, etc. Assessment of the pottery details, chemical analysis to evaluate the percentage composition of iron implements and slags (done by using Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t XRF Analyser), preparation of silicone replicas/moulds of the drill holes of beads for the examination of the drilling techniques through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and application of the accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) method for dating the carbon samples have been carried out to understand the characteristics of the material remains unearthed from Niramakulam. Applying the carbon dating techniques at the study area in Niramakulam site had brought out some of its significant features, which happen to be a major factor in deciding the chronology of Megaliths in the Pamba River Basin.

I trust this preliminary effort would be helpful to all stakeholders including the public in studying the Megalithic culture of Kerala in general and Pamba River Basin in particular.