Megalithic cairn circle found in Tirupur

Coimbatore: Archaeological researchers and enthusiasts in Tirupur have stumbled upon a megalithic cairn circle, which according to experts is around 3,000 years old, in Samanthan Kottai village in Avinashi taluk.
Members of Tirupur Varalaatru Suvadugal, an archaeological forum, found the cairn circle earlier this month, while they were in pursuit of locating and documenting archaeological sites and symbols. They subsequently consulted with experts, who confirmed the structure to be a megalithic one.
Cairn circles are essentially circular structures made of big boulders that are erected as memorials for the deceased. These circles are a kind of megalithic memorials, which include slab cists, dolmen cists, and menhirs, according to the researchers of the forum.
Stephen Mudiarasu, a researcher and representative of the forum, said the structure has two concentric circles of boulders, and the outer diameter was around 32ft. Each boulder would be around 150kg to 200kg and the structure was situated at an elevated area – 15ft from the surface level.
The distinguishing feature of the structure, he said, was the heap of smaller stones inside the circles. “This is a rare finding in this region. We have seen such structures in Dharmapuri and other places, but not here. The two-layered stone circle and the heap of smaller stones inside are notable.”
Mudiarasu said they had identified around seven such sites within 0.5km to 1km from the Kousika river so far.
R Poonkundran, former assistant director of the state archaeology department, said the age of the structure would be around 2,500-3,000 years. “These megalithic structures are raised over a grave. If not a body, a bone or any other belonging of the deceased would be buried, and such a structure would be formed over it. Sometimes, smaller stones would be dumped inside the circle in a heap, as in this case.”