Megalithic period falcon and snake carvings discovered at Valiyapara, Erikkulam, in Madikai panchayat. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
New carvings of a falcon and a snake have been identified on the rock face of Valiyapara at Erikkulam in Madikai panchayat of Kasaragod, putting the site firmly on the archaeological map.
Researchers studying the ancient Thoranam rock painting said the figures, probably cut with a sharp tool, were found on a large rock surrounded by pastures.
The discovery was made during fieldwork by Nandakumar Koroth, history teacher and researcher at Nehru Arts and Science College, Kanhangad, local archaeologist Satheesan Kaiyanam and University of Baroda archeology students Anagha Sivaramakrishnan and Asna Jiji. A faint human face was also traced nearby.
Experts note that similar carvings appear on laterite rock formations from Ratnagiri to Wayanad, where more than a thousand carvings found near the Konkan coast have been dated to more than 12,000 years. Researchers say the Erikkulam carvings likely depict a skein swooping down in search of prey and a snake moving through the grass, etched by the early inhabitants during their leisure time. The falcon appears to be flying, one leg extended as if preparing to land on a branch. A stone depiction of a snake was also earlier reported at Pampukothipara under the Nileswaram rock.
Recent explorations have revealed additional features, including more than ten carved animal tracks at Ummichi and more than 60 imprints on a rock near Cheemeni. More than 40 pairs of footprints were identified in Kanhirapoyil last year. With the latest finds, the Kasaragod district now has two documented rock carvings. Scientists warn that without timely conservation, these relics are at risk of irreversible loss.
Kasaragod is also considered rich in megalithic heritage, with about a thousand monuments associated with the ‘Mahashila’ culture. Earlier this year, work on the Jal Jeeven mission pipeline turned up bone fragments and ancient artifacts believed to date back nearly 2,000 years.
At Manimoola, Badaduka, excavations using earth-moving machinery revealed rock-cut chambers in which artefacts were found, including clay vessels, a lid resembling a large vase, a three-stone iron stove stand and the remains of iron tools such as a pocket knife. The presence of undecayed bone fragments, which are considered rare in laterite rock chambers, was described as a significant find. Similar remains were previously recovered from Nannangadi megalithic burial sites in South India.
Published – 9 Nov 2025 20:10 IST
