Spiral motif, humped bull, and 40 cup marks discovered in Kasaragod

Ancient rock engravings including a spiral motif, a depiction of a humped bull, and around 40 cup marks have been discovered on a laterite rock surface within the Muliyar Reserve Forest in Kasaragod district during a survey by the Department of Archaeology, Keralam.

The engravings were identified near the Manjakkal bus stop on the Bovikkanam-Iriyanni road, in Ward 12 of Muliyara village in Kasaragod taluk. The spiral engraving measures approximately 60 cm in diameter, while the humped bull figure is around 80 cm long. The cup marks were found in the vicinity of the engravings, which are located near a small stream that flows only during the rainy season.

K. Krishnaraj, coordinator of the survey team and officer-in-charge at the Pazhassi Raja Archaeological Museum, said the discovery was significant as examples of similar rock engravings on laterite surfaces had been reported at only a few locations in Keralam. The precise period to which the engravings belong, however, remains uncertain.

‘Interesting piece of evidence’

“The period cannot be determined precisely at this stage. They could belong to the historical, prehistoric or later prehistoric period. It is a very interesting piece of evidence as similar examples have not been found widely in Keralam,” Mr. Krishnaraj said.

He added that the spiral motif appeared to be a rare example of its kind on a laterite outcrop in the State. Spirals and concentric circles are known from prehistoric and Iron Age rock art traditions in different parts of the world. In Keralam, a spiral motif has been documented on the eastern wall of the Edakkal caves in Wayanad district.

Mr. Krishnaraj pointed out that comparable engravings had been reported from other parts of the country, particularly the western coastal region, including sites in the Konkan region and at Ettukudukka in Kannur district.

The humped bull depiction is a noteworthy feature of the Muliyar discovery. Similar figures have previously been reported from Ariyittapara in Kasaragod district and Ettudukka. Comparable bull motifs have also been documented at rock art sites in Goa and Udupi.

Dr. E. Dinesan, Director of the Department of Archaeology, said the discovery added to the growing evidence of rock art in north Keralam and highlighted the importance of systematic archaeological surveys in identifying and documenting previously unrecorded examples of the region’s cultural heritage.

V. Selvakumar, an archaeologist specialising in prehistory, neolithic culture, and Iron Age megaliths, said the discovery underlined the need for a more systematic survey of Keralam’s laterite tablelands, where vegetation cover and natural modifications to the landscape often make rock engravings difficult to identify.

Archaeological richness

He said megalithic burial remains and microlithic objects had been reported from the broader region, indicating its archaeological richness. He added that the purpose of the engravings could not be established conclusively from their appearance alone.

”We cannot simply classify them as ritual engravings. Some may have been associated with rituals, while others may have served as artistic expressions or been created for other purposes,” he said.

He also referred to a site at Parambath in Malappuram, where a snake-like petroglyph had been found on a laterite surface. Such examples, he said, reinforced the need to examine laterite rock surfaces across the State for comparable evidence.

He noted that comparable motifs had been reported from parts of the Malabar region and the western coastal belt, including the Konkan region. He said the engravings could not be assigned a definite date without further study.

However, he added that the discovery was an important addition to the record of rock art in Keralam and called for closer examination of the State’s laterite tablelands to identify and document more such engravings.