Latest news with #archaeological
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
What's Been Knocked About By Shadow-Boxing Over Keeladi?
That was bound to fuel charges of manipulation, and lead to allegations of suppressing the 'truth". It would also make any professional—as superintending archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishnan definitely is—double down on his work. After all, another Archaeological Survey of India stalwart KK Muhammed also refused to budge from his report on the Hindu pillars and terracotta figures found beneath the Babri Masjid though he was under intense pressure. Even in Tamil Nadu, the case of Keeladi is not unique; T Satyamurthy, who led excavations at Adichanallur, also went through travails related to the submission of his findings. Not only did a century go by between the first dig and the next—1904 and 2003-4—over 15 years elapsed before the ASI came out with a report about what was found. And Tamil parties cited its findings as proof of a separate civilisation separate and superior to the Sindhu-Sarasvati one. As the Adichanallur saga continued, ASI asked Ramakrishna for clarifications on what depth (and therefore what date) some artefacts were excavated in Keeladi too, particularly those attributed to the oldest period, saying they needed more analysis. Like Satyamurthy, Ramakrishna did not budge, asserting his findings were sound and based on established archaeological procedures—stratigraphic sequences, material culture and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. 'Science" has long been used as a weapon to prop up hypotheses on antiquity and tear them apart. So it is not surprising that in Keeladi too, science is being posited as the neutral adjudicator in a bruising battle of competing political ideologies as state elections in Tamil Nadu loom menacingly. Setting up a museum in Keeladi even as excavations and discoveries are still happening point to the drumming up of popular support for discoveries yet to be peer-reviewed. The southern extremity of Indian is the location of many ancient burial sites—in cists, cairns and urns—but no settlements had been found until the dig at Keeladi. Indeed, even the 178 urns unearthed at Adichanallur had human remains with a diverse racial range: 35% Caucasoid, 30% Mongoloid, 16% Negroid, 6% Australoid, 8% ethnic Dravidian, and 5% mixed trait. Thus, Adichanallur was not a strong candidate to assert a superior 'Dravidian' civilisation. So Keeladi, 12 km southeast of Madurai—one of many ancient sites identified along the Vaigai river, is now the poster-place for Tamil pride. Thousands of artefacts were unearthed there by ASI's Ramakrishna, indicating a 2,100-year-old thriving urban centre of the Sangam era, the first discovery of this kind. Many theories have been expounded since then about Keeladi, including postulations that it was sophisticated and 'highly literate' and even 'secular'. Assertions of 'secularism' in that pre-modern society even though the presence of ritual burials prove that the people of that time had certain beliefs indicates a distinct political agenda given the trajectory of current Dravidian politics; the politicisation of Keeladi is clear. That is why the Centre and ASI have to tread carefully, even when citing science as the reason for their scepticism about Keeladi's antiquity, or any other aspect of the findings there. When Ramakrishna refused the Centre's order to revise his 982-page report on the two phases of excavations he carried out at Keeladi in 2014-2016, he gained huge support from segments in the state who claimed 'northern' bias. Transferring Ramakrishna to Assam—a very bureaucratic move—and delays in central funds for more excavations at Keeladi only exacerbated Tamil anger. Eventually excavations there by ASI restarted, but under PS Sriraman. However, Sriraman concluded there was no continuity in the brick structures discovered earlier, so all the accusations of suppression of Tamil heritage surfaced again. The Madras High Court intervened, visited Keeladi and ordered ASI to continue digging and allow Tamil Nadu's department of archaeology to join in. The latter promptly published a report in 2019 saying Keeladi was an urban settlement dating from 6th century BCE to 1st century CE. In January 2023 Ramakrishna, by then back in Tamil Nadu, submitted his report on the first two phases. But he was again transferred thrice more in quick succession. Meanwhile the third phase of excavation by the state's archaeology department has been accompanied by strong 'Tamil pride' narratives by a wide range of mostly non-experts in archaeology. The ASI, and by extension the Centre, maintain that scientific lacunae remain about Keeladi. advetisement The discovery of hundreds of ancient megalithic burials points to the probability of nearly as many as-yet unexcavated human settlements too, as hunter-gatherers gradually became agro-pastoralists. But centuries of disconnect with our ancient roots, then colonial exploitation followed by post-1947 decades of focus on increasing agricultural production and economic infrastructure has led to the destruction of evidence that could have given a clearer picture. But instead of shadow-boxing, the Centre (and the ASI) must join hands with Tamil Nadu, and indeed all states, to formulate a policy on accessing excavation sites that are so crucial to our understanding of India's ancient heritage. Extensive digs in the north have led to the realisation that the Indus was not the fountainhead of subcontinental civilisation and that many more contemporary settlements flourished further east along a paleo-channel of the Sarasvati.
The Age
02-06-2025
- Science
- The Age
Seven things you must see at the world's largest archaeological museum
Seven wonders within the Grand Egyptian Museum The world's largest archaeological museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), is officially opening next month. Here are seven of the must-see highlights. 1 Hanging obelisk Of the GEM's 100,000 artefacts, only one is found outside. The 19-metre-tall obelisk, billed as the world's first hanging obelisk, stands in the entrance courtyard atop a basalt plinth. Step into the plinth and look up through a window to view a rare carving in the base of the obelisk – a cartouche bearing the name of King Ramses II. Until the 70-tonne obelisk was placed at this spot in 2018, the carving hadn't been seen for 3300 years. 2 Statue of Ramses II Dominating GEM's vast entrance hall, the 11-metre-high statue of one of the most famous of Egypt's pharaohs was discovered in six pieces in 1882 in the former Egyptian capital of Memphis. Rebuilt, it stood sentinel in a central Cairo square for 50 years, but is now the centrepiece of a hall so capacious that the 80-tonne red-granite statue almost loses its sense of scale. Stand beneath it, however, and you'll know you're in the presence of ancient greatness. 3 Pyramid view
Sydney Morning Herald
02-06-2025
- Science
- Sydney Morning Herald
Seven things you must see at the world's largest archaeological museum
Seven wonders within the Grand Egyptian Museum The world's largest archaeological museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), is officially opening next month. Here are seven of the must-see highlights. 1 Hanging obelisk Of the GEM's 100,000 artefacts, only one is found outside. The 19-metre-tall obelisk, billed as the world's first hanging obelisk, stands in the entrance courtyard atop a basalt plinth. Step into the plinth and look up through a window to view a rare carving in the base of the obelisk – a cartouche bearing the name of King Ramses II. Until the 70-tonne obelisk was placed at this spot in 2018, the carving hadn't been seen for 3300 years. 2 Statue of Ramses II Dominating GEM's vast entrance hall, the 11-metre-high statue of one of the most famous of Egypt's pharaohs was discovered in six pieces in 1882 in the former Egyptian capital of Memphis. Rebuilt, it stood sentinel in a central Cairo square for 50 years, but is now the centrepiece of a hall so capacious that the 80-tonne red-granite statue almost loses its sense of scale. Stand beneath it, however, and you'll know you're in the presence of ancient greatness. 3 Pyramid view
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Fountain of Youth' movie review: Guy Ritchie's Indiana Jones wannabe is a mealy mouthed bore
It is unbelievable that Guy Ritchie's archaeological heist film, Fountain of Youth, is just over two hours long. It felt way much longer. Starting promisingly in Bangkok, with the Thai version of 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)', and a man with a painting rolled up in a tube being chased by scary people, the movie swiftly dissolved into a muddy, derivative mess. The man with the painting is Luke (John Krasinski) and he is on the hunt for the titular Fountain of Youth for Owen Carver (Domhnall Gleeson), a corporate raider and multi billionaire, who is dying of liver cancer and hopes the Fountain of Youth will give him a fresh lease of life. Fountain of Youth (English) Director: Guy Ritchie Cast: John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Eiza González, Domhnall Gleeson, Arian Moayed, Stanley Tucci Runtime: 125 minutes Storyline: A disgraced archaeologist and a dying corporate raider hunt for the Fountain of Youth The Fountain of Youth is protected by a secret society called the Protectors of the Path (see what I mean by a complete lack of imagination?). Luke is trying to find the Fountain of Youth from his father, Harrison's (gosh!) notes. While we do not know if Harrison was an archaeologist, grave robber or treasure hunter; the search for the mythical wellspring was his life's work. If any of this reminds of you of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, then it is surely intended, what with Luke talking in his sleep and all. As Luke flees Bangkok on a posh train, he is accosted by a mysterious woman, Esme (Eiza González) who also tries to take the painting from him but of course he escapes. Then we are in London where Luke's sister, Charlotte (Natalie Portman) is in the middle of a horrid divorce from Harold (Daniel de Bourg) and a custody battle for her 11-year-old son, Thomas (Benjamin Chivers) who is something of a musical prodigy. Charlotte works at a museum and up pops Luke to steal yet another painting (he stole a painting from gangsters in Bangkok, which is why the scary men were after him). We learn that the clue to the path was hidden in the works of six artists including El Greco, Velázquez, Rembrandt, Caravaggio and Ruben. There is no The Da Vinci Code-style detour into art history with our favourite symbologist. Also, why anyone would want to hide a path only for it to involve such treasure hunts in anyone's guess. Such secrets ways are best lost in the mists of time. After raising the Lusitania and shooting up the Austrian National Library, the merry band land up in Cairo and blast their way through pyramids that have not been opened for millennia and speed reading hieroglyphics to reach X, which marks the spot. Esme and her boss, the Elder (Stanley Tucci) as well as Inspector Jamal Abbas (Arian Moayed) from the Interpol are hot on their heels. Everything comes crashing down after the good guys have got the prize and the evil villains have earned their just desserts in the true tradition of adventure movies. Ritchie's trademark style of slo-mos, flying coats in a blaze of bullets and bone crunching violence are anaemically present. Fountain of Youth is short on everything — from action and humour to thrills and locations. Fountain of Youth is currently streaming on Apple TV
Time of India
17-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Entry to all ASI sites to be free on International Museum Day
Entry to all sites and museums under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) across the country will be free on Sunday in view of the International Museum Day . There are 3,698 protected monuments and sites, and 52 museums under the ambit of the ASI. "The ASI is pleased to announce that entry to all ASI monuments and museums across the country will be free on May 18, on the occasion of International Museum Day," the Culture Ministry said in a statement. The International Museum Day highlights the vital role that museums play in preserving cultural heritage , promoting education, and fostering dialogue across communities and generations. This year to encourage wider public participation, the ASI is offering free access to its network of 52 site museums and all ticketed monuments across the country, which house some of India's most treasured archaeological artefacts, from prehistoric tools and sculptures to medieval inscriptions, and more, the statement said. "This initiative seeks to deepen public engagement with India's rich cultural legacy and to provide a meaningful platform for people to reconnect with history and heritage," it said. Live Events The ASI also has a dedicated Museum Wing which deals with maintenance and management of its site museums, which includes one at Sarnath site (1910) being the earliest in the series of archaeological site museums located across the country, the ministry said. The concept of archaeological site museums sought to preserve and display the excavated and movable artefacts near the site so that the displayed objects don't lose its context and may be studied by researchers and visitors alike while visiting the site, it said. Recently, India's first underground museum at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Humayun's Tomb was inaugurated, along with the Virtual Experiential Museum at Man Mahal Observatory, Varanasi and Archaeological site of Lalitagiri at Odisha, the ministry added. ASI site museums are being upgraded to facilitate the need of every section of the society, and with modern interventions like AR-VR (augmented reality-virtual reality) also being incorporated to give visitors a holistic experience, officials said.
