Chumadutangi | Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala

DIGITAL MUSEUM

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY

Chumadutāngi (Load Bearing Stone/Load Relieving Stone)

April 29, 2025

Chumadutāngi (Load Bearing Stone/Load Relieving Stone) is a bulky stone bench like structure used for supporting the weight of head loads during the transportation of goods in pedestrian mode. Athāni, Thāngikkallu, Unnukallu, Athānikkallu, and Moonnukallu are other regional names of Chumadutāngi in the Malayalam language.

Chumadutāngi is built for the comfort of pedestrian load bearers who carry heavy loads for longer distances. These structures are widely seen at frequent intervals in the hinterlands of Kerala. These are unique structures erected in Kerala where the landscape is undulated in most places and where vehicle transportation was difficult.

Chumadutāngis are often associated with other amenities like vazhiyambalam (wayside shelter), well, tottikkal (stone trough for water).

Chumadutāngi is constructed by a simple arrangement of stone slabs that stand by gravitational force. Some are chiselled into regular shapes but some are roughly cut slabs. Wedge-shaped quarrying marks can be seen on some of them. Often, they bear short inscriptions referring to the donor, purpose and date.

As per the inscriptions, 1748 CE from the Kottayam region is the earliest date for Chumadutāngi. However, uninscribed Chumadutāngi are likely to be much earlier in date.

Chumadutāngi is significant evidence in tracing the trade routes and understanding the role of hinterlands in supplying various goods to the markets and other larger trade centres in Kerala and vice versa.