Archaeological surveys conducted by Sanalkumar in Kerala have brought to light several rock shelters with Paleolithic and Mesolithic/ microlithic artefacts, Rock engravings, capsules, socket / post-hole remains on rock surfaces, megalithic remains such as slab cists, dolmenoid cists, menhirs, urn burials and historical sites with foot prints, terracotta figures, stone sculptures, hero stones, sati-stones and stone inscriptions, wall inscriptions, mural paintings, coins, shrines and monuments.
CHORONOLOGY
The chronological classification of geographical analysis has been from the Pre-historic Palaeolithic period to Later historic period placed between 40,000 B.C to 1792 A.D as the cut of date, since it is the period of the last invasion, viz; that of Tippu Sulthan from Mysore and the complete collapse of ancient Venginadu Kingdom as a Ghost town.
Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Settlement Sites
( 4000 B.C -10,000 B.C)
Sanalkumar has discovered a large number of prehistoric sites of about 25 natural rock shelters and caves in the Thenmala/ Vencatamala Mountain valleys and its foothill ranges at Palakkad District. Three Paleolithic sites with quartz tools of core tools, hand axe, claver, and borer (40,000 BC – 10,000 BC) were also located.
26 Mesolithic factory sites discovered by Sanalkumar consists of microlithic tools of Backed Blade, backed tool, retouched blade, scraper, point tool, flack tool, hammer stone, core tool, core, flacks, chips and chunks (4000 B.C-10,000 B.C) .
The identification of about twenty five natural rock shelters and caves with prehistoric artifacts found in the mountain valleys and in the hillocks must definitely has provided an ideal spot for habitation to the nomadic Palaeolithic and Mesolithic people.
