The 982-page report, compiled under K Amarnath Ramakrishnan and submitted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) two years ago, outlines the developments and scientific findings from the Keeladi excavation.
Published Jan 21, 2025 | 4:03 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 21, 2025 | 4:03 PM
MP Kalanithi Veerasamy urges for immediate release of Keeladi excavation report (myneta.info)
North Chennai Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Kalanithi Veerasamy has written to Union Minister for Culture and Archaeology, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, urging clarity from the Central Government regarding the status of the Keeladi excavation report.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP called for the immediate release of the report, emphasising its critical role in showcasing the historical and cultural significance of South India’s archaeological heritage.
In his letter, Dr. Veerasamy highlighted the importance of the Keeladi excavation, which aims to shed light on the rich archaeological and cultural history of Tamil Nadu.
The 982-page report, compiled under the leadership of K Amarnath Ramakrishnan and submitted to the Central Government by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) two years ago, details the developments and scientific findings from the excavation.
The report is said to have traced the cultural and historical evolution of South India from 800 BCE to 300 CE.
“The Keeladi excavation represents a monumental effort to bring to light the archaeological heritage of Tamil Nadu,” Dr. Veerasamy wrote.
“It provides invaluable insights into the ancient dynasties of the region, including the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Mutharaiyars, and Nayaks, which serve as guiding pillars for understanding the region’s past.”
He also referred to the Madurai High Court’s February 2024 ruling, which directed the Central Government to release the report within three months.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocates has called for the report’s public disclosure to make the findings accessible to scholars, researchers, and the general public.
Dr. Veerasamy urged the Central Government to expedite the process, pointing out that the release of the report would enhance global awareness of Tamil cultural heritage and contribute to its recognition worldwide.
The letter has been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well, urging immediate action to protect and promote Tamil Nadu’s rich archaeological legacy.
Keeladi is a small village in the Sivaganga district of southern Tamil Nadu, located about 12 kilometers southeast of the historic city of Madurai, along the Vaigai River. Excavations at this site, which began in 2015, have revealed evidence of an urban civilization in Tamil Nadu during the Sangam age, shedding light on the region’s ancient history.
The Sangam age, traditionally thought to span from the third century BCE to the third century CE, takes its name from the renowned assembly of Tamil poets in Madurai during this period. However, archaeological discoveries at Keeladi, made by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department (TNSDA), have extended this timeline significantly.
A 2019 report by TNSDA identified artefacts from Keeladi as dating from the sixth to first centuries BCE. One of the samples, retrieved from a depth of 353 cm, was carbon-dated in the U.S. to around 580 BCE. These findings suggest that the Sangam age in Tamil Nadu predates earlier assumptions by several centuries.
Further strengthening this new timeline, the report by K Amarnath Ramakrishna, the ASI’s Superintendent Archaeologist who led the initial excavations at Keeladi, has pushed the origins of the Sangam age even further back to approximately 800 BCE based on these groundbreaking discoveries.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Nitika K Shivani)
