HOA1&2 - Module 3 - PREHISTORCI ARCHITECTURE OF KERALA.pptx

HISTORY
OF ARCHITECTURE 1&2
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR I B.ARCH, M.ARCH – ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION I SCMS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
SEMESTER
1&2
AR. VISHNU P. PRAKASH
KERALA ARCHITECTURE
MODULE III

CONTENTS
MODULE III
PREHISTORIC
BUILT STRUCTURES OF KERALA
INDIGENOUS RESIDENTIAL
ARCHITECTURE OF KERALA
INDIGENOUS RELIGIOUS
MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES
DOLMENS
UMBRELLA STONES
BURIAL CAVES
CAVE TEMPLES
INFLUENCING FACTORS OF INDIGENOUS
GEOGRAPHY
CLIMATE
MATERIALS
SOCIAL
POLITICAL
RELIGIOUS
TRADITIONAL PLANNING PRINCIPLES
CHARACTERISTICS OF SHALA TYPOLOGY OF
HOUSES
DEVELOPMENT OF FOUR TYPES OF SHALA
HOUSE CONFIGURATION
EVOLUTION & EXPANSION OF EKASHALA,
CHATURSHALA & OTHER COMPLEX
COURTYARD BASED RESIDENTIAL TYPOLOGY
EXAMPLES OF SHALAS – EAKASHALA,
CHATURSHALA, COMPLEX SHALA
EXAMPLE OF MUSLIM & CHRISTIAN
THARAVAD
CHARACTERISTICS OF KERALA TEMPLE
ARCHITECTURE
TYPES OF SREEKOVIL (MOOLAPRASADA)
FIVE TYPES – WITH & WITHOUT ANTHARALA,
WITH & WITHOUT MUKHA MANDAPA
SCHEMATIC LAYOUT OF A FULL-FLEDGED
KERALA TEMPLE WITH NAMES OF
IMPORTANT STRUCTURES,
SECTIONAL ELEVATION OF A TYPICAL KERALA
SREEKOVIL (MOOLAPRASADA)
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
KERALA TYPE OF MOSQUES & CHURCHES
STUDY OF RELEVANT EXAMPLES.

1
TOPIC
PREHISTORIC BUILT
STRUCTURES OF KERALA

The Iron Age monuments on the west coast of India can be categorized into certain
major types, based on their architecture. Some of these types are found in other
parts of the peninsula, and some are found only in certain areas of what is now the
state of Kerala.
The monuments display both over-ground and subterranean features. It is not
always possible to characterize a monument as a single type because it can have
different combinations of the features listed below.
MEGALITHIC
MEGA+LITHIC = LARGE STONE
(Ancient Greek Words)
MEGA = LARGE
LITHO = STONE

PREHISTORIC BUILT STRUCTURES OF KERALA
DOLMENS
UMBRELLA STONES
BURIAL CAVES
CAVE TEMPLES

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: DOLMENS
o A dolmen is made of granite slabs arranged above ground in a
square or rectangular shape with a capstone.
o A cist is an architectural variant of dolmens with the difference
that most of it is underground.
o ‘Dolmenoid cist’ is a term sometimes used to refer to a subtype of
dolmens, an architectural variant that is partially buried in the
ground.
o It is not always easy to determine whether the partial burial or
exposure of a monument was intentional.
o Hence, the terms dolmen and dolmenoid cist are sometimes used
interchangeably to denote the same monument.
Figure 1: Dolmen, Vellarkodu, Palakkad
(Photo Courtesy: Mohamed, 2012)

o Dolmens are the rectangular box like
chamber, which is constructed with four
slabs forming orthostats and fifth is used
as the cap stone.
o Dolmens are mainly seen in the highland
regions.
o They are rich with grave goods such as
iron implements, jars and beads.

Figure 1: Dolmen, Vellarkodu, Palakkad

Figure 3: Dolmen, Marayoor, Munnar
Figure 2: Kannimara dolmen shrine, Idukki
(Photo Courtesy: Varghese, 2015)

Figure 3: Dolmen, Marayoor, Munnar

Dolmen at Kovilkadavu, Idukki
(Photo Courtesy: Department of Archaeology, Kerala)

Dolmen at Kanakkayam, Idukki

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: MENHIRS (NADUKKALLU)
o Menhirs: A menhir is a monolithic slab that is usually made of
granite (Fig. 4), though there are exceptions, including the menhir
in Anakkara in Palakkad district of Kerala, which is made of laterite.
o Nadukkallu or menhir is a Stone Age monument which was later
known in the names pulachikkallu, masathikkallu or veerakallu.
o These are single rock slabs installed atop a burial site. The
nadukallu is mentioned in ancient texts ‘Purananooru,’
‘Akananooru,’ ‘Malaipadukadam’ and ‘Tolkappiam.’
o
Inscriptions of 10 and 11 centuries too have references on
nadukkallu. Nadukallus inscribed with the name of the dead were
installed at the burial sites of heroic warriors.
Figure 4: Menhir, Kuthukal, Malappuram
(Photo Courtesy: Damodaran, 2016)

o A Menhir is a single huge granitic or lateritic monolith standing
upright and set up over or near the burial.
o These huge stones mark the neighbouring presence of an urn
burial.
o Menhir are also known locally by various names such as
‘nattukkallu’, ‘patakkallu’ and ‘pulachikkallu’.
o They are found in the district mainly such as Palakkad, Thrissur,
Ernakulam and Kollam.
Figure 4: Menhir, Kuthukal, Malappuram

Figure 6: Menhir at Puzhakkal, Thrissur
Figure 5: Megalithic Menhir at Ramavarmapuram, Thrissur
(Photo Courtesy: Viswaprabha, 2015)

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: UMBRELLA STONE (KUDAKKALLU)
o Kudakkal: Translated as ‘umbrella stone’, a kudakkal is a laterite
monument whose distribution is confined to the Kerala region.
o The monument is mushroom-shaped, with an umbrella-like stone
supported by clinostats (stone blocks erected in a slanting
position). Owing to their unique physical appearance, kudakkals are
often used as cultural symbols in heritage- or history-based
representations of the region and in tourism advertisements.
o The "kudakkallu" is a kind of megalithic monument found in the
state.
o The "kudakallus" are burial sites in which the corpse is buried and
curvilinear blocks are installed on the ground with a hollow space
in between. An umbrella-shaped block is kept atop.
Kudakkal, Cheramanangad, Thrissur
(Photo Courtesy: Rajesh, 2018)

o The umbrella stone, known as ‘kudakkallu’, represents a unique and
most beautiful types among the Kerala megalithic monuments.
o The name kudakkallu is derived from the local Malayalam word ‘kuda’
and ‘kallu’ which means ‘umbrella’ and ‘stone’ respectively.
o They are found mainly in the lateritic areas of Kannur, Kozhikode,
Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur.
o The kudakkallu is modelled in the shape of a mushroom on laterite
which look like a typical palm-leaf umbrella which is common in Kerala
till recent times.
o Structurally the kudakkallu consist of a circular laterite cap stone
resting on four dressed laterite orthostat, each with a convex external
surface, a flat interior and generally conical in shape.
o The centre of the clinostat provides space in which very rarely, some
small artifacts are found.
Kudakkal, Cheramanangad, Thrissur
(Photo Courtesy: Rajesh, 2018)

KUDAKKALLU PARAMBU
The largest Kudakkal measures 270cm (106.3 inches) high and 150cm (59 inches) wide
| © Narayananknarayanan / WikiCommons
A prehistoric megalithic burial site in
Chermanangad, Thrissur, The largest Kudakkal
measures 270cm (106.3 inches) high and 150cm (59
inches) wide | © Narayananknarayanan /
WikiCommons
Kudakkallu Parambu features 69 megalithic
structures spread over a small area. Its name is
befitting as it translates to ‘umbrella-like stone
field’. Different types of burials are observed
here, and the ASI estimates the date of
construction to be around 2000 BCE.

KUDAKKALLU PARAMBU
Kudakkallu Parambu – Megalithic Burial SIte
(Photo Courtesy: Sainath Menon, 2020)

ARIYANNUR UMBRELLA STONES
The largest Kudakkal measures 270cm (106.3 inches) high and 150cm (59 inches) wide
Ariyannur is a megalithic burial site with a set
of six umbrella-like stones, locally referred to
as Kodakkallu (translating to Umbrella Stone).
These are recognized as a centrally protected
ancient monument by the ASI.
Its location gives an impression that the stone
structures were erected over an urn burial.

Kudakkal,Thavanur, Malappuram
Kudakkal,Cherumanagad, Thrissur

Valluvanad, Palakkad

Tavanoor, Palakkad

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: CAP STONE (TOPPIKKALLU)
TOPPIKKALLU
Topikkal, Cheramanangad, Thrissur
(Photo Courtesy: Majid, 2018)
A topikkal also known as a ‘ stone’—is a
hemispherical laterite stone that is used as a lid on
a burial urn. It is also unique to present-day Kerala.
The cap stone, locally known as ‘toppikkallu’ are
hemispherical in shape and are made out of
dressed or undressed granitic stones, which are
used as the lid put on burial urns.
These stones rests directly on the ground.
The cap stone has very limited distribution mainly
confined to the Thrissur district of Kerala
The cap stone looks like a traditional hat used by
the farmers of Kerala, hence the name toppikkallu
is used.

TOPPIKKALLU
Topikkal, Eyyal, Cheramanangad, Thrissur
(Photo Courtesy: Majid, 2018)
These monuments carry a large amount of
grave goods which mainly includes pottery,
bronze vessels, beads etc.

Kudakkal,Cherumanagad, Thrissur

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: HOOD STONE (PATHIKKALLU)
Pathikkal, Cheramanangad, Thrissur
(Photo Courtesy: Varghese, 2018)
PATHIKALLU – HOOD STONE
Pathikkal: Pathi means ‘hood of a snake’.
Pathikkals are unique to the Kerala region, and
are dressed blocks of laterite arranged in a
way that they resemble a snake’s hood
The multiple hood stone consist of several five
to twelve dressed laterite clinostat or cap
stone, which is arranged in a circle without
joining the top.
This arrangement leaves a circular gap in the
middle.
Two circles of this type are reported at
Cheramanangad, Thrissur.

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: HOOD STONE (PATHIKKALLU)

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: STONE CIRCLE (KALLVALAYAM)
Stone circle, Anakkara, Palakkad
(Photo Courtesy: Mohammed, 2008)
KALLVALAYAM – STONE CIRCLE
Stone circle: These are circles made of dressed
or undressed granite and laterite stones which
mark the location of a burial site. The stones
are arranged in the form of single or multiple
circles

Stone circle, Mangad, Kerala
(Photo Courtesy: Cultural History of Kerala, 1999)
KALLVALAYAM – STONE CIRCLE

Kallvalayam, Cheramanangad, Thrissur

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: CAIRN
Stone circle, Anakkara, Palakkad
CAIRN
Cairn: A cairn is a circular packing of rubble
which is often associated with a stone circle
marking a burial site. These are often covered
by soil and vegetation so that only the mound
is visible above the ground.

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: CAIRN

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: ROCK-CUT CAVES
Rock-cut cave, Eramam, Kannur
ROCK-CUT CAVE
SUBTERRANEAN FEATURES
Rock-cut caves: Rock-cut caves are unique
laterite monuments found on the west coast of
India.
These subterranean caves may have single or
multiple chambers.
Stone benches are sometimes carved into the
sides of the monument, with burial goods
placed on and under them.
Some rock-cut caves have portholes (circular
windows) as well.

ROCK-CUT CAVE
o The rock cut caves are generally encountered in the lateritic zone of the districts of
Thrissur, Malappuram, Kannur, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta.
o These caves has been made by scooping out a square stepped pit in the rock
approached by rock cut steps.
o One or more doorways were also cut in the sides of the pit.
o Each doorway about 60CM high to facilitate the workman to scoop a dome shaped
cave.
o These are mostly quarried into monolithic laterite belts.
o They have an opening on the side or on the top surface as determined by the
landscape.
o The opening is generally a small rectangular or circular aperture of about 2ft x 2ft or
2ft diameter, leading to the chamber through a passage, generally sealed by a port
slabs.
o Both pillared and non pillared types are found in Kerala.
o Monolithic cots are scooped inside the chamber that provide berths for the interred.

ROCK-CUT CAVE
o The rock-cut chamber have domical or flat roofs.
o In some instance the open courts leads to more than one cave. For example Eyyal.
o Façade is fashioned like multiple doorways of different sizes.
o Rock-cut caves of Kerala classified into four types – 1. Cave with centre pillar, 2. Cave
without centre pillar, 3. Cave with a top opening, 4. Multi chambered caves.
o These monuments are locally known as Risyashramam, Guha and Pandukuzhi.
o Many of these rock-cut chambers sepulchral in nature as is evidenced from the grave
goods found associated to the burial.
o Includes iron tools, beads, bronze artifacts and muller stones.

Rock-cut cave, Anakkara, Palakkad

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: BURIAL ROCK-CUT CAVES
Burial Cave at Chowannoor, Thrissur District, Kerala
BURIAL ROCK-CUT CAVE
Chowannur Burial Cave is a prehistoric
Megalith rock cut cave situated in Chowannur,
of Thrissur District of Kerala. The cave can be
accessed from single entry and its chamber is
circular. The cave has a single chamber and
two benches. The Archaeological Survey of
India has declared this cave as centrally
protected monument

Eyyal Burial Cave near Chermanangad in Thrissur district of Kerala | ©
Ranjith Siji / WikiCommons
Another megalithic burial site in Thrissur lies in
Eyyal. This site is a double chamber burial cave.
Roman coins from the Republican period were
unearthed here by the ASI. These coins date back
to the first century AD.

Eyyal Burial Cave near Chermanangad in Thrissur district of Kerala | ©
Ranjith Siji / WikiCommons
o Common outer court leading to main
chambers.
o East facing main chamber.
o Main chamber higher than the smaller one.
o A bench each inside main chamber and small
chamber.
o Crude irregular shaped flat surfaced blocks
for keeping vessels and other objects.
o The were recovered from champotteries and
iron implements ber.
o First century AD Roman coin datable to first
century AD was unearthened near the site.

Kakkad Burial Cave near Kunnamkulam in Thrissur district of Kerala | © Narayananknarayanan
/ WikiCommons
o Kakkad Burial Cave near Kunnamkulam
town in Thrissur has an entrance accessible
by a flight of stairs.
o The cave is dome-shaped, and the ceiling
has a circular opening.
o Other nearby megalithic burial caves
include Kattakambal Burial Cave and
Kandanassery Burial Cave.
o All of these are found within a 10-
kilometre (6.2-mile) radius of each other.

Kakkad Burial Cave near Kunnamkulam in Thrissur district of Kerala | © Narayananknarayanan
/ WikiCommons
o Kakkad Burial Cave · Access to the
entrance through a flight of steps.
o ·Caves dome shaped and parabolic on
plan.
o ·A circular opening on the cave ceiling.
o Wide plaster like projection an either side
of the entrance.
o ·Height of cave 1.8m from floor to the top
opening(unusual).

Kattakambal Burial Cave in Thrissur district of Kerala
o Location: at chirakkal 2 km west of Kattakampal 10
km north west of Kunnamkulam.
o Specifications:
o Cave is fashioned by scooping a stepped rectangle
pit into laterite out crop.
o No of chambers: 4
o Situated laterally facing east one each on other sides
o Chamber height 1m
o ceiling – horizontal
o floors- rectangular
o A bench along the length of the left chamber another
bench along the length of the right chamber

Burial Cave Pilikode of Kerala
Burial Cave Kotholikunnu of Kerala

The Stone Age carvings or Petroglyphs of Edakkal are rare and the only known examples from South India
| © Ashwin Kumar / Flickr
EDAKKAL ROCK-CUT CAVE
Edakkal Caves is a journey to a prehistoric past.
Located 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) from Kalpetta
in Wayanad district and at 1,200 metres (3,900
feet) above sea level, the caves house petroglyphs
believed to be at least 8,000 years old, indicating
the presence of prehistoric settlements in this
region.
The petroglyphs are of human and animal figures,
tools used by humans, and other symbols yet to
be deciphered.

PETROGLYPHS AT EDAKKAL CAVE

EDAKKAL CAVE

MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES: ROCK-CUT CAVES TEMPLE
Rock-cut Cave Temple
| © Kannanshanmugam,shanmugamstuio,Kollam / WikiCommons
ROCK-CUT CAVE TEMPLE
o Kothukkal Cave Temple, located in the village
of Kothukkal in Kollam district, is a rock-cut
structure that dates back to sometime
between the 6th and 8th centuries CE.
o The cave temples are carved out of a gigantic
piece of rock and lie in the middle of a paddy
field.
o In the local language, Kothukkal, which
means carved rock, refers to the rock-cut
shrine, which forms the main temple deity.

| © https://realbharat.org/7-ancient-rock-cut-temples-in-kerala-the-historic-relics-of-a-
bygone-age/
KALLIL BAGAVATHY
o Kallil Bhagavathy Temple is an ancient rock-cut
temple located on a hillock in the middle of a
jungle in Methala village, Ernakulam.
o The temple is in a cave beneath a huge
monolith rock of 75 feet long, 45 feet wide, and
25 feet tall, which seems to be suspended in the
air without any visible support on the ground.
o The word ‘Kallil’ in Malayalam means “in stone”;
and everything here is made of stone.
o A flight of 120 steps leads to the temple

bygone-age/
KAVIYUR THRIKKAKUDY
o Thrikkakudy Cave Temple located at Kaviyur in
Pathanamthitta district is a wonder in rock cut
cave temple.
o Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
o The temple reflects Pallava style of architecture
and it is believed that the inception of the
temple was in the 8th century A.D.
o The temple facing South has a 7-foot square
and 10-foot high sanctum, which houses a
three-foot-tall Shivalingam

bygone-age/
VIZHINJAM
o Vizhinjam cave temple in Trivandrum district is
one of the smallest of such temples in Kerala.
o It is excavated on a small boulder of about 3
meters height and has a single cell sanctum that
houses an east-facing sculpture of Veenadhara
Dakshinamurthy (Dakshinamurthy with Veena),
an aspect of Lord Shiva representing as the guru
(teacher) of all types of knowledge and music.

bygone-age/
MADAVOORPARA
o Madavoorpara cave temple in Trivandrum
district is built on the top of a hillock by carving
out the surface of solid rock.
o This less explored destination that dates back to
850 AD is now a protected monument under the
Archaeological Department of Kerala.
o A flight of 33 steps on rock leads to the rock-cut
temple.

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
o The megalithic monuments indicate the level of architectural knowledge.
o Monuments like rock-cut chamber tombs, dolmens, and multiple hood-stones necessitated a
remarkable skill in designing and executing their structures.
o The architectural skill evident in the interlocking alignment of slabs of the dolmens and slab
cists is remarkable.
o In rock-cut caves, the pillar, doorways, and bench or cot like berth etc. carved out from the
laterite rock represents the level of contemporary household architecture.
o The use of pillar and door-jambs in the rock-cut caves that are monolithic structures shows
the rock-cut architecture to be the prototype of what had been evolved in wooden
architecture
(Source: Gurukkal and Varier 1999: 141-142)

Megalithic Sites in Kerala

HOA1&2 - Module 3 - PREHISTORCI ARCHITECTURE OF KERALA.pptx

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