Paiyampalli Neolithic Sites, Tirupattur, Vellore
Paiyampalli
Neolithic Sites is located near Tirupattur Town in Vellore District of Tamilnadu. It is
known for the excavation site in the region which has remains of Neolithic and megalithic periods. The excavations in the region
carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India headed by Shikaripura Ranganatha Rao in the year 1964-65 and 1967-68. The habitation –
cum burial site Paiyampalli (12° 30' N 78° 36'E) lies on Bangalore – Madras trunk
road. The excavations conducted in the years 1964-65 and 67-68 at Paiyampalli
(Rao) brought to light two cultural periods, viz., the Neolithic (period 1) and
the megalithic (period II). The carbon-14 determinations of the charcoal
samples indicated for period I A date at 1390±100 B.C and for period II at
315±100 BC.
The
excavation revealed two phases A (layers 9 and 8) and B (layers 7, 7a, 6, 6a
and 5) in period I. The layers 6a, 6-and 5 of phase B in period I, yielded iron
artefacts along with megalithic Black and red ware, Neolithic Grey ware
potteries and polished stone axes in one of the middle terrace (IAR:
1967-68:31). The absence of bone tools and the marked preference for built in
huts with floors levelled with stone chips and plastered over with-ash- mixed
earth showed improvement in the economy of the people in phase B than the
earlier culture.
The
Neolithic settlers at Paiyampalli used to cultivate cereals and pulses. Charred
grains of horse gram and green gram were found in those levels where a few
sherds of megalithic pottery occurred in an essentially Neolithic
habitation-level. The co-occurrence of Neolithic and megalithic elements in
layers 6a, 6 and 5 with an occupational deposit of 30 CMS in period I
illustrate the existence of these two cultures for a considerable period of
time (200 years) before the emergence of iron using migrant as a single
dominant culture in period II.
Period
II represented the megalithic culture. The megalithic pottery of Paiyampalli is
similar to that of other sites, except in respect of the abundance of a
comparatively thin but coarse red ware painted in chocolate, -met with at the
habitation. The Black and red ware, all black ware and the red ware formed main
ceramic of the period II. Russet coated painted ware made its appearance in the
late levels of period II. The megalithic people at Paiyampalli smelted iron and
produced a large variety of tools and weapons locally, probably from the
time of their arrival c. 500 BC, is indicated by the enormous quantity of
iron slag and ore found all over the site. Sickles spears, 'chisels,
nails, and axes were found in the habitation area (IAR 111: 1967-68:31).
The
excavation at Paiyampalli has provided a firm datum for the introduction of iron
in the Northwest part of Tamilnadu. The place is located at about 5 Kms
from Tirupattur, 6 Kms from Tirupattur Railway Station, 5 Kms from Tirupattur
Bus Stand, 14 Kms from Natrampalli, 9 Kms from Jolarpettai, 89 Kms from
Vellore, 224 Kms from Chennai and 216 Kms from Chennai Airport.
Location