Antiquity of Munnur

The antiquity of village Munnur is attested by the petroglyphs^[1] found in Perumukkal a mountainous region which is situated 12 k.m., western side of the Munnur village. This petroglyphs are one among the four significant petroglyphs sites appear in India. More over this petroglyphs are similar to that of Egyptian Hieroglyphics letters. From this we can surmise that the existence of the village Munnur near Perumukkal during the 4000 B.C. Besides the Urn burial sites (mudumakkal thazhi) have been excavated in the nearby places viz Davadanampettai, Nayanur, Kollur and Thiruvakkarai. These Urnburial sites were very nearer to the village Munnur and it confirms the existence of the village Munnur during the Paleolithic period. More over Thiruvakkarai, the place 40 k.m from Munnur has a few fossil woods were found. From these and nearby archaeological sites, archaeological sources, it can be inferred that the vicinity of Munnur was an active centre of human habitation even during the Paleolithic age^[2].

In addition to the Paleolithic culture there are many places appeared in Villupuram is famous district of which Munnur is a small village, which yielded Microlithic, Neolithic and Megalithic artifacts. Microlithic materials dating back to 8000 B.C. Another places also supply Neolithic culture datable to 1000 B.C. for instance black and red wares were collected in the places likes Kothanmangalam and Parickal which were the other Megalithic burials of Villupuram district. All these sites above mentioned sites are located within 15 kms radius from Munnur. The antiquity of Munnur is also well attested by archaeological investigations done in its vicinity. The archaeologists have brought to light material evidence like pot sherds and other objects which take us back to the beginning of the Christian era.