Context: A large number of megalithic hat stones were found from a single site during a recent archaeological salvage excavation conducted by the Kerala State Archaeology Department at Nagaparamba in Kuttippuram village, near Tirunavaya.

Key findings

• Hat stones, popularly called Thoppikkallu in Malayalam, are hemispherical laterite stones used as lid on burial urns during the megalithic period are fond here.

• The findings may throw light on the life and culture of people who lived in those parts more than 2,000 years ago.

What are Megaliths?

• These were constructed either as burial sites or commemorative(non-sepulchral)  memorials

• The former are sites with actual burial remains, such as dolmenoid cists(box-shaped stone burial chambers), cairn circles (stone circles with defined peripheries) and capstones (distinctive mushroom-shaped burial chambers found mainly in Kerala). 

• Non-sepulchral megaliths include memorial sites such as menhirs.

• In India, archaeologists trace the majority of the megaliths to the Iron Age(1500 BC to 500 BC).

• In India, these are concentrated in the states of Maharashtra(mainly in Vidarbha), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Tirunavaya

• It is the land of ancient Mamankam.

• It is situated on the banks of Bharathapuzha river; it is a place of historical importance.

• In olden days, Mamankam a grand assembly of rulers was held once in 12 years here.