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ASI Approves Mega Excavation Drive Across Tamil Nadu
17 Mar
Summary
- ASI permits excavation of Keeladi and seven other sites in Tamil Nadu.
- 13 sites to be excavated this year, the highest in six decades.
- Focus on ancient iron technology and maritime trade.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has authorized the Tamil Nadu state archaeology department to conduct excavations at Keeladi for its 11th season, alongside seven other locations across the state. This comprehensive archaeological undertaking will see 13 sites being excavated within a single year, a volume not seen in the past six decades.
Preparations for the digs are underway, with the state department aiming to commence work soon to utilize the excavation window available until September before the monsoon season begins. The primary objectives for this year's excavations include investigating ancient iron technology and understanding the dynamics of historical maritime trade.
Beyond Keeladi, the approved sites include the Chola-era port city of Nagapattinam, a Sangam-era glass bead-making center in Manikollai, and locations in Vellalur and Karivalamvanthanallur known for yielding Roman gold coins. Additionally, Iron Age burial sites and a conch shell ornament-making unit are among the identified excavation targets.
While debates on Keeladi's precise antiquity persist, pending the ASI's publication of excavation reports, the state department has radiocarbon-dated samples from the site to 580 BCE. Evidence of ancient dyeing units and reconstructed faces of individuals from approximately 2,500 years ago further enrich the findings from Keeladi.
