CHENDURNI CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An east-facing rock shelter (note 1) associated with rock art (engravings) consists of a talus cave and represents a Mesolithic cave-site … formed by a very large gneiss monolith which had come down from the higher levels (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1981-82 / 1984: 27). SITUATION: District Quilon … in the spurs of Chendurni hills at Termalai or Tenmalai (note 2), situated about 152 m above MSL at the foot of the Chendurni hill (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1981-82 / 1984: 27) and not only about 10 km in a direct line west of Shencottah (AMS sheet NC 43-16 Trivandrum U502 series, 1959 edition) or Shencotta (N08°58': E077°16' nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) but also with the Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary (note 3). CAVE DESCRIPTION: Rather the cave than The case [sic] is large enough to hold 20 people at a time … (kerala-tourism.net/kerala-wildlife-sanctuaries.htm… accessed 01.11.2204). CULTURAL HISTORY -- archaeology: The cave-site … yielded various types of Meslithic artifacts, besides a few Upper Palaeolithic blades (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1981-82 / 1984: 27). A recent study conducted by Dr. P. Rajendran, archaeological research associate of the Poona Deccan College, has resulted in the excavation of the remains of Stone Age culture from a large cave situated at the north -western part of the Shenduruny river. It was proved that these remains belong to the Mesolithic period. This study brought out the fact that the Shenduruny River Valley Civilization was one among the oldest River Valley Civilizations in India. It dates back from 5210 to 4420 B.C. older than the Indus Valley Civilization which is believed to have flourished from 4400 to 3700 BC The cave paintings seen here are comparable to the Mesolithic paintings found in the caves of central India. The cave found here is large enough to hold at least twenty people at one time. According to Dr. Rajendran, the marshy place seen below just in front of the cave once must have ben a lake (prd.kerala.gov.in/prd2/forest/shend.htm accessed 01.11.2004). CULTURAL HISTORY -- rock art (engravings): Rock engravings of the Mesolithic period have also been noticed on the exterior of the cave (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1981-82 / 1984: 27). One large, carved motif … The unusually large carving (about 1.75 meters long) is on the northern outer face of the shelter (edakkal.com/html/sitesofRockcarvings.htm accessed 2004.01.05).lithic artifacts, besides a few Upper Palaeolithic blades (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1981-82 / 1984: 27). A recent study conducted by Dr. P. Rajendran, archaeological research associate of the Poona Deccan College, has resulted in the excavation of the remains of Stone Age culture from a large cave situated at the north -western part of the Shenduruny river. It was proved that these remains belong to the Mesolithic period. This study brought out the fact that the Shenduruny River Valley Civilization was one among the oldest River Valley Civilizations in India. It dates back from 5210 to 4420 B.C. older than the Indus Valley Civilization which is believed to have flourished from 4400 to 3700 BC The cave paintings seen here are comparable to the Mesolithic paintings found in the caves of central India. The cave found here is large enough to hold at least twenty people at one time. According to Dr. Rajendran, the marshy place seen below just in front of the cave once must have blithic artifacts, besides a few Upper Palaeolithic blades (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1981-82 / 1984: 27). A recent study conducted by Dr. P. Rajendran, archaeological research associate of the Poona Deccan College, has resulted in the excavation of the remains of Stone Age culture from a large cave situated at the north -western part of the Shenduruny river. It was proved that these remains belong to the Mesolithic period. This study brought out the fact that the Shenduruny River Valley Civilization was one among the oldest River Valley Civilizations in India. It dates back from 5210 to 4420 B.C. older than the Indus Valley Civilization which is believed to have flourished from 4400 to 3700 BC The cave paintings seen here are comparable to the Mesolithic paintings found in the caves of central India. The cave found here is large enough to hold at least twenty people at one time. According to Dr. Rajendran, the marshy place seen below just in front of the cave once must have ben a lake (prd.kerala.gov.in/prd2/forest/shend.htm accessed 01.11.2004). CULTURAL HISTORY -- rock art (engravings): Rock engravings of the Mesolithic period have also been noticed on the exterior of the cave (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1981-82 / 1984: 27). One large, carved motif … The unusually large carving (about 1.75 meters long) is on the northern outer face of the shelter (edakkal.com/html/sitesofRockcarvings.htm accessed 2004.01.05).