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The Print
a day ago
- Politics
- The Print
Keezhadi excavation report under review—Centre on ASI's tussle with archeologist
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. Show Full Article 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
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Unearthing lost timelines: Marungur Chapter
From potsherds to iron tools, the habitation mound and burial site add vital data to the archaeological profile of ancient Tamil Nadu's Naduvil Mandalam. N. Sai Charan digs deep into the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology's recently completed excavation Nestled in a belt of lush green cashew groves at Panruti taluk in Cuddalore district, Marungur, an otherwise quiet village, has recently stepped into archaeological spotlight. A short 2-km detour from the Chennai-Kumbakonam Highway near Kollukkaran village leads to this site, where the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) had recently completed excavation, bringing to light evidence of a long-forgotten past, and further proof of the rich heritage of Tamil Nadu. The region was part of the ancient Naduvil Mandalam or Naduvil Nadu (Central Territorial Division), flanked by the Thenpennai to the north and the Vada Vellar river to the south. Marungur was among eight locations where the TNSDA took up excavations in 2024-25. While the exact period is yet to be confirmed through chemical dating, preliminary findings from Marungur pointed to a well-established settlement, likely inhabited by communities during the transition phase from the later part of the Iron Age to the Early Historic Period, said R. Sivanantham, Director of Marungur excavation, and Joint Director of the TNSDA. He was assisted by archaeologists K. Bakialakshmi and S. Subhalakshmi, as well as research scholars. The exploration by the TNSDA, using remote-sensing techniques such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mapping and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to assess various attributes of the site, revealed that the habitation mound and burial site were positioned at an elevation of 100 metres above mean sea level. Subsequently, a formal excavation was launched to conduct methodical unearthing and analysis of material culture. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on June 18, 2024, launched the archaeological excavation at Marungur from the State Secretariat, along with excavations at Keeladi and its cluster (Kondagai) in Sivaganga district; Vembakottai in Virudhunagar; Kilnamandi in Tiruvannamalai; Porpanaikottai in Pudukkottai; Tirumalapuram in Tenkasi; Sennanur in Krishnagiri; and Kongalnagaram in Tiruppur. Explorations at Marungur The significance of Marungur came to light more than a decade ago. A report published in The Hindu on March 5, 2010, noted that three potsherds with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions were discovered at an urn burial site in Marungur. J.R. Sivaramakrishnan, a history lecturer at Annamalai University, had first noticed and collected the potsherds when an earthmover dug up the soil for strengthening the Vadalur-Panruti Road at Marungur. 'This is the first time such inscribed pots with Tamil Brahmi letters, usually placed as grave goods in urn burials, have been recovered from any archaeological site in Tamil Nadu. This opens a new chapter in archaeological research in the State,' the report said, quoting three experts, including renowned archaeologist K. Rajan. According to official sources in the TNSDA, one was inscribed with 'a-ti-y(a)-ka-n', and the others with 'a-ma-ṉ' and 'a-ta'. These inscribed potsherds could be dated back to the second or third century BCE, on paleographic grounds. Further explorations revealed a variety of artefacts on the surface of the habitation mound, located adjacent to a pond approximately 600 metres southwest of the burial site. Among the finds were light grey rouletted ware potsherds, black-and-red ware potsherds, microlithic tools, and a crescent-shaped iron chisel. On the southern flank of the habitation mound, remnants of a brick measuring 7×21×42 cm, flat terracotta stones of various sizes believed to have been used to play hopscotch, and beads of various colours – green, purple, yellow, black, and white – were found. Other artefacts included black-and-red ware pottery, terracotta pipes, an urn, circular stands, a lid made of black polished ware, and iron implements. Excavation at habitation mound On the eastern side of the tank at Marungur, a total of eight trenches, each varying in depth based on stratigraphic markers, were excavated at the habitation mound, which is situated in a zone predominantly composed of laterite soil. Decades ago, during the creation of the nearby pond, large volumes of silt must have been dumped over the mound. This anthropogenic activity resulted in the accumulation of nearly 2 metres of overlying silt, which was encountered during trenching, Mr. Sivanantham said. A significant discovery from one of the trenches was the unearthing of two large terracotta storage containers, each measuring approximately 1.25 metres, at a depth of 4.4 metres. In one of these containers, six bone points with sharp edges were found at the bottom. A few more bone points were also unearthed during the excavation. The exposed soil in and around the containers was clear evidence of firing activities. From the same stratigraphic layer, charcoal samples were retrieved, offering an opportunity for radiocarbon dating and further contextual analysis, he said. Two inner cores of conch shells, one of which measured 7 cm in length, were unearthed at a depth of 3.6 metres. A 13-cm-long iron knife, broken into three pieces, weighing 22.97 grams and measuring 2.8 mm in thickness, was also recovered from a depth of 2.57 metres. Various potsherds, including black-and-red ware, red ware, red-slipped ware, coarse red ware, rouletted ware with intricate designs, grey-rouletted ware, brown-slipped ware, and perforated ware, were found during the excavation, indicating remarkable diversity in ceramic usage. They also include 12 graffiti-bearing potsherds, with some of the graffiti resembling Indus signs. Several burnishing tools, used to polish the surface of pottery and terracotta wheels, were also found. The excavation yielded a rich collection of 95 antiquities, including a polished stone axe, carnelian, agate, quartz, glass and terracotta beads, copper bangle fragments, an iron knife, and terracotta objects. Antimony rods were unearthed, their blunt edges indicating that they were used for ornamental purposes. A medieval copper coin from the period of Raja Raja Chola I was also unearthed from the top layers. 'The mother trench excavated on the southwestern part of the habitation mound was nearly six metres deep. Beyond a depth of six metres, traces of natural soil were observed, indicating the absence of any further anthropogenic activity,' said Mr. Sivanantham, adding that Marungur was one of the few places in Tamil Nadu where both the habitation mound and its associated burial site were found. Excavation at burial site At the burial site located in a cashew grove, the archaeologists dug two trenches. During the course of excavation, two laterite stone circles were identified, confirming the presence of megalithic burials. In total, 10 urns were unearthed from these two trenches. The first megalithic structure revealed a laterite stone circle with a diameter of eight metres. The surface of the circle was covered with small laterite stones, which, upon removal, revealed two concentric stone circles – the inner circle composed of medium-sized laterite stones and the outer structure of larger stones. The stone circle was divided into four quadrants for methodical excavation. Initial layers yielded hard laterite stone. At the centre, a large capstone was found, placed to protect the burial urn beneath. The urn itself was placed within a laterite bedrock cavity. This megalith yielded two urns, Mr. Sivanantham said. In the second megalithic burial area, beneath the laterite layers, a fine red soil stratum was encountered, from which eight urns made of red ware were exposed at varying levels and in different sizes. Iron swords were found outside two of the urns, while other iron objects were recovered from inside the urns. One urn yielded red jasper beads, he said. In both the trenches, offering pots around the urns were recovered. These included black-and-red ware, red-slipped ware, black-slipped ware, and plain red ware pots. Proposed scientific analysis The samples collected from the habitation mound and the burial site will be subjected to a range of scientific analyses aimed at establishing the chronology of site formation, dating the artefacts and antiquities, and reconstructing the lifestyle and food habits of the communities that once inhabited Marungur, Mr. Sivanantham said. The charcoal samples will be sent to the Beta Analytic laboratory in Florida, U.S., for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry analysis for dating, while the pollen samples collected will be sent to French Institute of Pondicherry. Further, archaeo-botanical investigations, phytolith and petrology analyses, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence and Thermoluminescence dating will be employed to determine the exposure of sediments and ceramics to heat or light. The continuous cultural development in this region – from the Iron Age to the Early Historic Period – will be established through chronological and scientific analyses based on the unearthed artefacts, Mr. Sivanantham added. The University of Madras had already conducted excavations near Marungur, at Karaikadu and Kudikadu. This site also holds significance as it is located close to the ancient port cities of Arikamedu in the Union Territory of Puducherry and Poompuhar in Mayiladuthurai district. The TNSDA has also mooted preliminary surveys at Manikkollai, nearly 30 km from Marungur, for conducting excavations during 2025-26.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
2nd phase of Porpanaikottai excavation concludes
Pudukkottai: The state department of archaeology has concluded the second, and likely final, phase of excavation at Porpanaikottai, a village near Pudukkottai town believed to contain remains of an ancient fort and a Sangam-era habitation site. The latest phase focused on Aramanai Thidal and Vadakku Kottai Karai, areas thought to hold remnants of an ancient fort and palace complex. "The excavation involved 21 trenches," said T Thangadurai, director of the Porpanaikottai excavation. Among the key finds were a 280 cm-long brick platform in trench B21, copper nails from pits A22 and C20, and a 353g copper stick (Maithaitheettumkuchi) from G27. A broken gold ornament in B22, along with coral beads, suggested the area's prosperity in ancient times. Grinding stones, possibly used for bead-making, were also recovered. "A notable discovery in C20 was a 497g agate stone, supporting the theory that the site housed a bead-making workshop," officials said. Burnt paddy beads, charcoal, and antler fragments found in the same pit point to domestic and food-related activities. A broken iron sword, believed to have been either ceremonial or defensive, was also unearthed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bhagalpur: 1 Trick to Reduce Belly Fat? Home Fitness Hack Shop Now Undo The first phase began in May 2023, following years of demands from archaeologists after a 4th-century hero stone was found in 2012. Earlier discoveries included Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, conch bangles, pottery, and bone tools, all pointing to a settlement that flourished from the Sangam to the medieval periods.
