Udupi: Kallembi a small village in yadamangala panchayat jurisdiction of Kadaba taluk in D.K. district came to limelight by an accidental discovery of a cave at the time of levelling the land for plantation. Adjoining areas like Dola, yenmakaje and others are welknown in the Tulu folk tradition for their immortal twin hero’s of medieval period Koti-Chennaya and their sister Kinnidaru. We got news on 20.08.2022 Saturday evening, but we were able to reach the site on 21.08.2022 Sunday mornng at about 9.30 am. Vishwanth Gowda Balladka, the land owner of the site informed us that the cave was found on 19.08.2022 afternoon, by the time many people visited the site including Yedamangala Grama Panchayath V.A. and other’s. As told by Vishwanth Gowda Balladka, the grave goods found in the cave were takenout and fill ins were emptied infront of V.A., the collected materials were dumped at the site on one side on the surface. The whole thing has been vedio graphed, he added.
The site at Kallembi located on the slope of a small hillock and waterd by Kumaradara a tributory of Netravati river. It is about 15-16 km from Yadamangala and just 1.5 km from Kinnidaru house of Dola. The cave was opened on eastern side by JCB. It is look like a hemispherical dome having a central pillar, pottery base impressions are visible on the inside surface of the cave. A heap of soil on either side of the pillar was found, without clearing the debris proper study is difficult and rain is also an obstacle to continue the examination. There was no trace of metals inside the cave. After making Panchaname, we have taken potteries of the site to our custody for further studies. One legged Red jar about 10 inch in height, Large red lid about 7.5 inch in diameter, another large black lid about 8.5 inch in diameter, three red poteries about 19 cm, 22 cm and 23.5 cm in height respectivly, one small black pot about 9 cm in height with small mouth about 2 cm, one small red lid with nob and black and red ware boul piceses with flat bottom, lamps of red and black color with round base were collected from the site.
Observations:
Kallembi potteries clearly indicates that the cave belonged to the Iron Age-Megalithic period. They resembled grave potteries of Mudukonaje near Mudubidare and burial potteries of Heggadehalli and Siddalingapura of Coorg.
It resembles more akin to the Kerala Megalithic burials in consrtruction and style, but side opening and underground passage with top opening, which is a common features of Kerala burials are not traced. It will be known by excavation only.
The small particles of husk most probabally of Ragi found inside surface of red pottoris was carefully collected and will send to the lab for further studies.
I am very much thankful to the Tahashildar of Kadaba, all officials of Yedamangala Village Panchayat, Vishwanath Gowda Blladka, my students, Dishanth, Vishal Rai, Arun, Karthik and Prathika and Prasad, Professor in history Sri Kukke Subramanya Degree College, Kukke Subramnya for their kind help.