Recently, 24 pairs of prehistoric footprints and a human figure have been found carved into rock on private property at Kanhirapoil in Madikkai panchayat in Kerala.
- The carvings, made with iron tools, include footprints varying in size from six to ten inches, suggesting representations of both children and adults.
- At the end of the footprints, a human figure has been intricately etched, accompanied by four circular pits around it.
- The footprints represent souls of dead people and have been carved out to honour them. All the footprints are pointing towards the west. However, local people believe these footmarks to be that of a goddess.
- These carvings bear similarities to prehistoric rock art found in Avalakki Pera in Udupi district in Karnataka. These carvings and artefacts found here have long been attributed to the Megalithic period, indicating a shared cultural heritage in prehistoric north Kerala.
