An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s17.116

v1.c9.s17.116

(2) ‘Umbrella’ stone or *ṭopi-kallu*: An ‘umbrella’ stone consists of a low lateritic cone with a wide circular flat base resting on four quadrantal clinostats joining up into a square below the balanced cone. The clinostats are bevelled on the outside, and each one of them faces a cardinal point. Seen from a distance an ‘umbrella’ stone looks like a giant mushroom topping a stem of truncated paraboloidal shape. Presumably the structure is erected over an urn burial. ARIYANNUR, CHERAMANANGAD and PORKALAM are known for their ‘umbrella’ stones. Locally they are known as *ṭopi-kallus*, which was originally rendered into English as ‘hatstone’, from *ṭopī* meaning cap or hat.