Hinterland Trade in Medieval Period: Significance of Chumadutangi Stones in Kottayam, Kerala
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Hinterland Trade in Medieval Period: Significance of Chumadutangi Stones in Kottayam, Kerala Cyriac Jose1 1. Department of History, St. Thomas College, Pala, Kottayam, Kerala, India (Email: [email protected]) Received: 07 August 2015; Accepted: 13 September 2015; Revised: 22 October 2015 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 3 (2015): 551‐561 Abstract: ‘Chumadutangi’ is creation of hinterland trade system and is a solid archaeological evidence of the trade activities of the medieval Kerala. The district Kottayam of south‐central Kerala and its inner regions were one of the major production centers of pepper and other commodities during the time of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English. Traders used both the rivers and the land routes to carry their commodities from the interiors to the major towns and vice versa. Present article is based on the field survey conducted by the author in the district of Kottayam to record surviving ‘chumadutangi’ stones. The article looks into the location, architecture and inscription on the stone structures and assesses the significance of them in the reconstruction of internal trade routes from the interior to the coastal towns and vice versa in the district during medieval period. Keywords: Chumadutangi, Hinterland, Trade, Medieval Period, Kottayam, Architecture, Inscription Introduction Chumadutangi literally means stones on which the passengers who carry loads on their heads, place them and take relief while travelling long distance. It is usually found on the roadside often seven or eight for every mile (Nagamaiya 1902: 195). There are plenty of such stone structures in different parts of Kerala and the field survey in the district revealed eighteen chumadutangi stones in the district. Out of eighteen, eight of them are well preserved, eight are almost collapsed and two are completely ruined. Most of them are seen along the present day roads and in between local towns. The stone structure has different names in different regions of the district such as Athani, Elappu as well as Chumadutangi. Even today, we can see various localities in the district using any of these or associated terms, which suggests that once such a stone structure has existed in that region. The Chumadutangi stones (hereafter ‐ CS) were meant for the traders who carry commodities for long distance and are usually constructed only for regions where bullock carts could not be used. According to the local tradition, there were a number of such stone benches in different parts of the district but a large number of them have been demolished due to construction activities. ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 3: 2015 The Region Kottayam district of Kerala situated between the Western Ghats on the east and Vembanad Lake on the west. Positioned a little south to central Kerala, the region is bordered on the north by Ernakulam district, on the east by Idukki district and on the south by Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts (fig. 1). It lies between the latitudes 9°15ʹ and 10° 21ʹ and the longitudes 76° 22ʹ and 77° 25ʹ. The Muvattupuzha, the Meenachil and the Manimala are the rivers, which flow through the northern, central and southern parts of the district respectively. Figure 1: Location of Kottayam district Historical Background The Kottayam district was the part of the Kulasekhara Empire from AD 800 to 1102. Later two small kingdoms were emerged by about AD 1100 – Thekkumkur and Vadakumkur, and continued their power until 1750. In addition to these, two principalities namely Punjar and Meenachil had also come into existence in the northeastern part of the district. By the end of the fifteenth century, when the Portuguese landed in Kerala in 1498, the kingdoms of Tekkumkur and Vadakkumkur had began to play their political role in central Kerala as allies of Cochin rulers. The regions of both the Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur kingdom were the major hinterland regions of Cochin, where pepper and other commodities produced. Later Marthanda Varma of Travancore annexed these two kingdoms in 1749 and 1751 respectively. Marthanda Varma also annexed the Punjar and Meenachil principalities. Since then the district was the part of Travancore Kingdom (Menon 1975: 5). 552 Jose 2015: 551‐561 Architecture and Location The stone structure consists of a horizontal stone placed over two stone pillars in such a way that, from the ground this stone alignment looks like a bench. Generally, the massive structure of a CS measures up to 1 meter in height from the ground and the horizontal stone ranges from 2 to 2.5 meter long, 30 to 40 cm width and 28 to 32 cm thickness. Granite, which is abundant in this region, is used for the construction. Based on the pillars, the CS can be classified into two categories; (I) CS with two pillars on which a horizontal stone block is placed (Fig. 2) (II) CS with three pillars on which two horizontal stones are placed (Fig. 3). In the area of study, five CS come under category one, eleven under two and the nature of the remaining two cannot be determined as they are ruined beyond recognition. Figure 2: Chumadutangi ‐ Category I The horizontal stone block is generally well finished than that of the pillar stone. The pillar stones, at many sites do not have a proper shape. The horizontal stones are well finished at three sides, but the bottom remains unfinished. These are huge stone blocks with visible curves at each end of it. These fit snugly into the knobs on the top of the pillars. In some stone structures, a number of holes (Fig. 4) are noticed on both the pillars as well as the horizontal stone, probably to tie animals. Chumadutangi stones are found in various locations in the district of Kottayam (Fig. 5 and Table 1). 553 ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 3: 2015 Figure 3: Chumadutangi ‐ Category II Figure 4: Holes on Chumadutangi Figure 5: Location of Chumadutangi Structures in Kottayam (Courtesy: Google earth) 554 ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 3: 2015 Elappunkal It is located (N 09°42’ 02. 0” E 76° 47’ 09. 7”) in Thalappuram Panchayath in Meenachil taluk. The stone structure found few meter away from the river Meenachil belongs to category II with three pillars and two horizontal stones and bear an inscription. Manjappallikunnu The CS is located (N 09° 33’01.2” E 76° 45’44.6”) in the Chirakkadvu Panchayath in the Kanjirappally taluk. The stone structure has been ruined completely. Elappu It is (N 09° 35’11.3” E 76° 40’57.1”) located in the Plallickathodu panchayath in Kottaym taluk. The structure belongs to category II with three pillars and two horizontal stones. Parappallikunnu It is (N 09° 35’44.8” E 76° 40’30.0”) situated in the Pallickathodu panchayath of Kottayam taluk. It is a well‐preserved CS and belongs to category II with three pillars and two horizontal stones. Kongandoor The CS is located (N 09° 38’ 50.0” E 76° 36’47.0”) in Ayarkunnam Panchayath of Kottayam taluk. The stone structure is completely ruined. Manarcadu It is (N 09° 36’00.5” E 76° 35’23.4”) sited in the Manarcadu panchayath of Kottayam taluk. It belongs to category I with two pillars and a horizontal stone. The horizontal stone is the longest one in the district and measures 2.96 meter. Kalathippadi It is located (N 09° 35’11.7” E 76° 33’04.7”) in the Manarcadu panchayath of Kottayam taluk. The structure has two pillars and a horizontal stone and is in the side of NH 220. Athirumpuzha This structure is sited (N 09° 40’09.0” E 76° 32’44.0”) in the Athirumpuzha panchayath of Kottayam taluk. Athirumpuzha was a major market centre since the Portuguese period. This well‐preserved CS belongs to category II with three pillars and two horizontal stone blocks, which also bear an inscription. Pattithanam It is a partially collapsed structure located (N 09° 41’28.9” E 76° 33’39.3”) in the Kanakkari panchayth of Meenachil Taluk. It has three pillars and two horizontal stones bearing inscription. Alingalthakidi It is located (N 09° 37’20.7” E 76° 41’49.6”) in Chengalam panchayath of Kottayam district. The stone structure has two pillars and a horizontal stone. 556 Jose 2015: 551‐561 Onamthuruthu It is (N 09°40’26.2” E 76°31’25.8”) located in the Ettumannor panchayath of Kottaym taluk. The structure belongs to category II with three pillars and two horizontal stones, which also bear an inscription. Vadayattu It is located in the Thalayolaparambu panchayath (N 09°46’26.2” E 76°25’53.1”).The structure is completely collapsed and only the pillar stone remains. Pulinchuvadu It is located (N 09° 45’24.3” E 76° 24’11.1”) along the road between Thalayolapparambu and Vaikom. It is completely collapsed except for a pillar. Chalaparambu This is sited (N 09°45’18.2” E 76°24’33.9”) and belongs to category II and only two pillars remain today. Udayanapuram It is located (N 09° 46’16.4” E 76°23’46.7”) along the road between Vaikom and Poothotta. This structure belongs to category II and everything is lost except for the pillars. Kulasekharapuram It is located (N 09° 48’11.2” E 76° 23’53.8”) along the road between Vaikom and Pothatta. It belongs to the category II with two pillars and a horizontal stone block. The horizontal stone block also bears an inscription. Thazhathuvadakara It is situated (N 09°28’05.1” E 76°42’52.4”) very close to river Manimala.