Umberalla Stones or kotakkal

Umberalla Stones or kotakkal

• Kotakkals are found mostly in the laterite areas in districts suches Kozhikode, malappuram and Trissur.
• Kotakkal: – in the shape of an oversized mushroom which looks like a palm leaf umbrella.

HOW THE WEIGHT REMAIN BALANCED?

• Umbrella stone consists of an umbrella head, a laterite stone with a wide circular flat base.
• A stem almost in the shape of a lotus bud vertically divided in to four, that form clinostat.
• The clinostats beveled an the outside and each of them faces cardinal direction
• The centre of the clinostats provides some space where some burial remains are sometimes found. Eg:Anakkara excavation.
• Clinostats join up together into a square at the base of the outside beveled in such a way us to close up along the diagonals the square.
• Surface of the clinostat is fairly dressed so that figure of monument becomes parabolic.
• The truncation near the top helps the circular umbrella part to rest on a rather flat surface.

Ariyannur Umbrella stones

• Location
• Aryannur is situated near choondal south east of kunnamkulam.
• Features
• Six umbrella stones in a group 4 are intact 2 are partly broken.
• Excavations revealed 2 two urns, one small and one large.
• Bigger urn has the ring chain decoration with parallel symmetrical ends.