The carvings were found by a team lead by Rajeev Puliyoor

IDUKKI: For the first time in south India, petroglyphs ( carvings on rocks) – similar to Indus script on Megalithic-era menhirs – were found during an excavation at Chakkakkanam near Nedumkandam in Idukki. Indus script – the writing system developed by Indus Valley Civilization –is the earliest form of writing in the Indian subcontinent, said a group of researchers led by Rajeev Puliyoor from College of Teacher Education, Nedumkandam.

Puliyoor, MS Jayan and Rison P Joseph found the historic petroglyphs in the four hills of Nedumkandam. “Petroglyphs were found on huge rocks at different sites on these hills. There were 37 megalithic menhirs and many had carvings. Some of them were broken. The carvings are 3.5 inches in diameter and 0.5inches deep. Such carvings, found in the Megalithic era menhirs, are rare in south India. In this area there are numerous stone circles, menhirs and cist burial inside these stones,” said Puliyoor, adding that these carvings are over 3,000 years old.

Puliyoor said that a scientific study was required to find a link between these carvings and the Indus Valley Civilization “We informed about the new sites to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and requested officials to conduct a study in the region to unearth more information and history.” he said.

Archaeologist and scientist P Rajendran said such carvings were found in different parts of Kerala. “The first one was reported from Edakkal Caves in 1901. There were two types of artistic expressions in that period: petroglyphs (carvings) and petrographics (painting). Petroglyphs are from 3,210 BC and one such example can be found at Thenmala, Kollam,” he said.

There have been numerous mentions about these carvings by archaeologists, who have described them in relation to the sun, constellations, family, a safe space, cell and playground, said a team member.

