Coimbatore :
An ancient box-like chamber made of crude stones believed to have been built in the megalithic period was discovered recently in Kongal Nagar Village near Udumalpet by a set of epigraphy students from Coimbatore. Known in archeological circles as dolemnoid cist, the chamber may have been built as early as in 5000 BC, according to epigraphy diploma students of PSG College of Arts and Science in the city and their teacher, who identified the cist.

Lecturer S Ravi and his team of 75 students went to the site after being told by a few local residents that they get old urns and pieces of earthen ware while digging or ploughing the land. The students spent three days in the village and found the cist accidentally amidst bushes in a corner of the village. “People worshipped at some of these burial  sites and they were unaware of its archeological importance. The place also contains slab cists which indicate that the area had ancient settlements. Even though the place has been mentioned as a megalithic site, there has been no proper study or the region’s importance so far,” said Ravi.

According to Ravi, materials that date back up to the megalithic period lie scattered over 300 acres of land in the village. While students found one cist almost intact, they also found stone pieces of many crushed cists in other parts of the village. In slab cist sites, stone slabs are normally found underneath the earth with chambers to keep metals or wares.

They normally indicate the prosperity of the habitation. However, dolemnoid cists are normally above the ground and used to keep dead bodies or skeletons. They are mostly devoid of valuables. “The dolemnoid cist indicates the early years of megalithic period when people mostly led a nomadic existence. Even though people of megalithic period used urns apart from red and black wares and metals, the dolemnoid cist found in Udumalpet did not have these things. It further confirms it was built during early megalithic period,” said Ravi.
The dolemnoid cist could have been built as a mark of respect to an important person in the group who died while safeguarding them from external attacks. Or it could be a tomb of a respectable member of the clan. The newly found dolemnoid cist has a port hole, a round opening with a diameter of 25 cm and thickness of 6cm.

The cist has a port hole since people then believed that spirits lived on even after death. Nomadic groups often offered prayers at such sites. Generally, dolemnoid cists are found in large numbers in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts in Tamil Nadu. However, the port hole is either on the eastern side or western side. “The most important finding of the dolemnoid cist found in Udumalpet is that it has the port hole on the northern side. This is something very interesting and the site needs to be studied by the archaeological department,” said Ravi.

V Jagadishan, a former epigraphist with Tamil Nadu  State Archeology Department, said the area is already identified as a megalithic site. The new findings must be researched further, he said. “Dr K Rajan, professor of history at Pondicherry University, had mentioned about the site in his research work. However, it is not sure whether there is a mention about this particular dolemnoid cist in his work,” said Jagadishan.

S Chinnasamy, president of Kongal Nagar Panchayat, said residents of the village have in the past got metal and earthen ware while digging the ground. However, no one knew the importance of it and many have been destroyed. “No study was ever conducted here. It is only when students and the teacher from PSG College came here we got to know the importance of the site,” he said. “We are planning to set up a committee to safeguard these ancient sites,” he added.

Students who were part of the study are naturally excited about what they have discovered. E Sangavi, an epigraphy student, said that it was an exciting trip for all the students. However, it was unfortunate that people were unaware of their importance which has led to many of the sites getting destroyed.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Coimbatore / by C.P. Sajit, TNN / December 20th, 2012