Keezhadi excavation report under review—Centre on ASI's tussle with archeologist

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3 days ago

New Delhi: Speaking for the first time in Parliament on the Keezhadi excavation report controversy, the Modi government Monday informed the house that there was no question of rejecting any report, and due process was being followed on the findings at the site of the 8th Century BCE settlement.
'The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is fully committed to follow the law and due scientific process for releasing the accurate findings based on the excavation at Keezhadi,' Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Lok Sabha on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament.
The Keezhadi excavation report has sparked a controversy involving the ASI and the Tamil Nadu government, with accusations of political interference and attempts to suppress Tamil heritage.
The ASI requested revisions to the report submitted by senior archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, who led the initial excavations, but he refused, leading to a clash with the central government.
Tamil Nadu's Archaeology Minister accused the BJP-led central government of treating Tamils as second-class citizens, while the Union Minister for Culture stated that further scientific studies were needed.
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Keezhadi, near Madurai, has yielded significant archaeological findings, including evidence of a well-planned urban settlement dating back to the 8th century BCE, potentially older than previously believed. Excavations have unearthed artifacts such as pottery with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, a literate society, and evidence of an urban planning system.
In the Lok Sabha, T. Sumathy alias Thamizhachi Thangapandia, member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu, asked about the details of the specific deficiencies cited by the ASI leading to the rejection of Ramkrishna's report.
Shekhawat replied that after duly verifying and incorporating the conclusions of experts in concurrence with the lead excavation Archaeologist, ASI releases an official report. 'Keezhadi excavation has been conducted under the aegis of ASI and a report of lead Archaeologist is under review,' he said, adding that the comments of experts have been shared with the lead archaeologist, which are still to be finalised.
Weeks after the rejection, ASI had responded, saying the reports submitted by excavators are sent to various subject experts, who are requested to vet the reports for publication.
'Various alterations, as suggested by subject experts, are carried out by the excavators and resubmitted finally for publication. These are then published as Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India (MASI),' said ASI, adding that the Keezhadi excavator (Ramkrishna) has been communicated the suggestions of the experts for making necessary corrections in the draft report submitted by him, but he did not carry out the correction.
Also read: Tamil Nadu is waging a new North-South clash of civilisations— Sivagalai to Keezhadi
'Missing details'
Ramkrishna has been transferred 12 times in the last 21 years of his service in ASI. In June he was transferred just a month after the rejection of his report by ASI.
Ramkrishna, in the 982-page report, classified Keezhadi into three periods: Pre-Early Historic (8th century BCE to 5th century BCE), Mature Early Historic (5th century BCE to 1st century BCE), and Post-Early Historic (1st century BCE to 3rd century CE).
But the Parliamentary answer said, as per the experts suggestions, the nomenclatures of the three periods require change and the time bracket of the 8th century BCE to 5th century BCE given for period I is not justified at all.
It also said that in the report, some details are also missing—a village map has to be redrawn, contour map, and images of graffiti.
There was much political outrage after the Ramkrishna's report on Keezhadi was rejected. Many Tamil Nadu leaders and the Stalin-led DMK raised questions. 'Keezhadi is more than just mud and pottery, it serves as a mirror reflecting a 3,000-year-old Tamil civilisation that was urban, literate, and thriving long before the myths of the Ganges Valley,' said Stalin.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Journey of excavator Amarnath Ramakrishna who led Keezhadi dig & has seen 12 transfers in 21 yrs