Edakkal Caves

About Edakkal Caves:

• These caves are located 3,900 feet above sea level in the majestic Ambukuthi Hills.
• The name Edakkal itself means “a stone in between”.
• The unique, intricate stone carvings date back to the Neolithic and Mesolithic ages.
• The caves are two natural formations that are believed to have been formed by a large split in a huge rock. 
• These feature Neolithic-era pictorial writings believed to date to at least 6,000 BCE.
• Features:
  • The caves sport human and animal figures besides symbols and letters.
  • Inside the caves are pictorial drawings and engravings that indicate the presence of ancient human settlements in the region.
  • Despite their name, the Edakkal Caves are not actually caves. They are part of a prehistoric rock shelter that was formed naturally when one huge boulder got wedged between two bigger ones.
  • Human figures, animals, tools, vehicles, day-to-day occurrences, and scripts in different languages have been discovered here.
  • The diversity of the engravings suggests that the Edakkal caves were inhabited several times at different points in history.
  • The Muniyaras, or ancient burial sites that have been discovered in these hills have yielded a rich collection of ancient earthenware and pottery.