Monuments are witnesses to the past. Even though static, they continue to communicate from the past to the present.
It is the responsibility of society to preserve such monuments that tell the stories of bygone eras. The Department of Archaeology is taking on that responsibility, for finding and protecting such monuments for future generations. Conservation of archaeological sites, ancient monuments and remains is one of the important functions of the Department of Archaeology. Kerala has archaeological records ranging from Neolithic rock engravings to the Iron Age, records of tribal communities, native and foreign religions and heritages of different dynasties.
The Kerala Archaeology Department currently maintains 192 protected monuments, ranging from the Padmanabhapuram Palace complex in Kanyakumari district in the south to the Ananthapuram Temple in Kasargod district in the north, megalithic-age burials, rock inscriptions, rock-cut caves, forts, palaces, church and temple murals, palm leaf manuscripts, copper plate documents, etc. Protected monuments are ancient monuments declared as protected under “The Kerala Ancient Monuments and Archaeological sites and Remains Act 1968”.
This Act defines an ancient monument as any historically, archaeologically or artistically interesting construction, building, monument, burial mound, place of detention, cave, rock carving, stone inscription or monolithic pillar that has existed for not less than a century.
Coin-sculpture-manuscript-inscription-art-handicraft, material, object or thing detached from a building or cave, material, object or thing illustrating the science-art-craft-literature-religion-customs-morals-politics of past times, material or object of historical interest that have been existed for at least a century are declared ancient remains under the Act.
The Department conserves archaeological sites and relics, dilapidated or lost, having archaeological or historical importance that have existed for not less than a century.
To declare something a protected monument, the public, voluntary organizations and cultural institutions can inform the government or the head of the Department of archaeology in writing their opinion about such monuments.
To know more about the protected monuments, click on the following link:
Outside Kerala
Padmanabhapuram Palace
