Edakkal Cave – Visit The Stone Age Monument in your Kerala Tour

Kerala has it all - a fine tropical climate, panoramic views, spotless beaches, romantic serene backwater, refreshing hill stations, happening breathtakingly enigmatic and beautiful attractions. Also the rich cultural factors of Kerala has a history of centuries and the growth of it adopted number of good sides from east and west civilizations. The historical monuments and myths are the strong evidences for the presence of ancient civilizations in Kerala. Edakkal cave carvings, Toberimala rock carvings, cave paintings in Thenmalai, Ancode, Attala, Ezhuthu Guha, Kovilkadavu etc are some monuments that lights to the stone age time in Kerala.

Edakkal caves are the protected Stone Age monument in Kerala and attracting number of tourists daily to this site. It is situated at the top of Thenmalai (Wayanad) about 1000 meter above from Sea level. Thousands of years ago, this cave was a rock shelter to Stone Age people and they recorded their disquiet and anxiety at the social changes brought about by Iron Age technology. In 1910, an armature British archaeologist rediscovered these carvings and brought it to the attention of general public. There are very few spots in India, with which prehistoric drawings in stone have been found and quality and quantity also remarkable about these cave markings.

The drawings on walls of this cave site is up to a height of over four meters and down below the present floor level of the cave with deeply carved motifs and signs which look particularly dramatic in the cool, mellow sheen of the damp interior. We can identify crosses, triangles and tridents; squares, some with inner crosses, and a rectangle divided into nine square-shaped chambers; stars, wheels and quatrefoils; spirals, whorls and volutes; plant motifs, pot-shaped items; various animals including ones resembling foxes, dogs and dear; and the unmistakable outline of an elephant.

There is also we can see the shapes of men and women, most of them are with tight garments and weapons. Some figures have masks and heavy garments also. Five ancient inscriptions also identified from the site. Edakkal cave drawings were probably created during the Neolithic period of the Late Stone Age and date from about 1000BC.

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