UDUPI:A megalithic rock-cut cave was found near Subhramanya Temple at Sooda, a village in Karkala taluk of the Udupi district, said Prof T Murugeshi.In a press statement issued here on Thursday, Prof T Murugeshi, an associate professor in the Department of Ancient History and Archeology, MSRS College, Shirva, said: “A hemispherical cave is cut into the laterite soil with a round opening of about 2 feet diametre and 1 metre long neck. It was covered by a granite slab and no archaeological artifacts were collected from the cave since it was filled with loose soil. Another Santur rock-cut cave that was found about three years back yielded potteries and small quantity of iron objects and another rock-cut cave at Palmane near Sooda that was unearthed by Prof Murugeshi has red pottery pieces inside it”.
Significance of Sooda Cave
Hundreds of rock-cut caves were found elsewhere in Udupi district and they belong to 800 BC to 200 AD. So, the Sooda rock-cut cave is assignable to 500 BC going by the shape and style of the cave.
The Sooda rock-cut cave is about 2,500 years old. Generally, megalithic burials are found near temples.
Alades and Naga Brahmasthanas suggest that the major worshipping rituals of Coastal Karnataka originated from burial worship tradition of Megalithic period.“I am unearthing the heredity of temple trustee Jayashila Hegde and others for their support and help in excavating this megalithic rock-cut cave,” he said.