Consider the following statements regarding the early historic iron age burials discovered in ancient Kerala: 1. Rock-cut caves known as Muniyaras or rock-cut chambers are widely distributed across the upland districts of Wayanad and Thrissur. 2. Urn burials (Nannangadis) containing skeletal remains, iron implements, and black-and-red ware pottery have been excavated extensively in coastal and riverine plains. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Both statements are accurate representations of the Megalithic burial typologies found in ancient Kerala. Rock-cut caves and dolmens locally referred to as Muniyaras are characteristic of upland lateritic regions, whereas urn burials or Nannangadis are predominantly found in low-lying alluvial plains and river valleys. These archaeological markers provide critical evidence of a sedentary agrarian and iron-using society that preceded the early Tamil Sangam age in Kerala.