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2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 Page No Vol 11, Issue 3, March/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 KEELADI IS THE BIRTH PLACE OF TAMIL CULTURE – A HISTORICAL STUDY Dr.L.RAVISANKAR. M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D* Associate Professor and Head, Department of History, Thiruvalluvar College, Vikramasingapuram, Papanasam – 627 425 Abstract Location: Keeladi excavation is a sangam period Keeladi excavation is a sangam period settlement that is being excavated by the settlement that is being excavated by the Archaeological survey of India and the Tamil Nadu Archaeological survey of India and the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department. Keeladi is a village Archaeology Department. Keeladi is a village located 12 kilometres south east of Madurai in located 12 kilometres south east of Madurai in Tamil Nadu near the town of Sivagangai district. In Tamil Nadu near the town of Sivagangai district. In the middle of the coconut grooves the site Keeladi, the middle of the coconut grooves the site Keeladi, with the cultural deposit mound extending over a with the cultural deposit mound extending over a vast area of more than 110 acres, is located at vast area of more than 110 acres, is located at Tirupuvaranam Taluk in Sivagangai district. In Tirupuvaranam Taluk in Sivagangai district. In order to find the ancient artefacts and unearthed order to find the ancient artefacts and unearthed materials, several times the Archaeologists made an materials, several times the Archaeologists made an attempt. The first attempt was made the 1974. This attempt. The first attempt was made the 1974. This excavation was first started in Pallisanthai thidal excavation was first started in Pallisanthai thidal which is in the north of manalur. It is one kilometer which is in the north of manalur. It is one kilometer east of the town of Keeladi. Various archaeological east of the town of Keeladi. Various archaeological resides were found when blowing the land around resides were found when blowing the land around the site. A survey was conducted for the study, the site. A survey was conducted for the study, which found that this ancient settlement was less which found that this ancient settlement was less than two and a half meters below the ground level. than two and a half meters below the ground level. The area currently being excavated is spread over The area currently being excavated is spread over 80 acres with a 3.5 kilometre radius. The ancient 80 acres with a 3.5 kilometre radius. The ancient towns of Kondagai and manalur are also said to be towns of Kondagai and manalur are also said to be associated with this region. To explore the ancient associated with this region. archaeological site this gives the picture of ancient Tamil culture. To find out of the data which belong Objectives: the period of ancient sangam age. To study the artefacts and archaeological remains of the study To explore the ancient area. To explain the ancient culture is the culture of archaeological site this gives the modern period. picture of ancient Tamil culture. Introducation To find out of the data which Keeladi is one of the most important belong the period of ancient Archaeological sites discovered in South India. sangam age. Early history of south India is dominated by the To study the artefacts and Pandyas the cheras and the cholas. Recent advances archaeological remains of the in Archaeological and Literary research have study area. helped to reconstruct the early period in details. To explain the ancient culture is The social and religious customs of the people have the culture of modern period. remained the same through the ages by the Archaeological Excavations and Explorations in Generally the explorations and the the following methods. excavations have so far not yielded any clear proof for Neolithic habitation in the study area. Abundant evidences though are unearthed for the early sangam Age settlement along the lower valley of www. jespublication.com Page No:504 Vol 11, Issue 3, March/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 Vaigai. Generally the Iron age culture is Miami, Florida, USA for Accelerator Mass characterised on the ceramic side by a block and Spectrometry (AMS) dating; one sample, collected Red ware a very interesting variety of ceramics that at a depth of 353 cm, was dated at 580 BCE. The is caused by a firing technique. graffiti marks on the artefacts obtained from the excavation site are interpreted by the excavators as Then after 37 years back the second a link between the scripts of the Indus Valley attempt was carried out in 2013 with the support of Civilization and Tamil-Brahmi. Dr.Vedachalam, Amarnath and Rajesh (the land owner). During the study 293 sites including Fifth phase: Keeladi were identified to have archaeological residues. In continuation of exposing the hidden In June 2019, the Tamil Nadu treasures and antique of this site, the State Archaeology Department began the fifth phase of Department of Archaeology has been conducting the excavation led by Dr R Sivanantham. This excavation at this site after getting approval from phase will be completed in four to five months in the CABA. This is a large scale excavation carried which 15 trenches have been planned to be dug. In out in Tamil Nadu after the Adichanallur the 5th stage of excavation, Sangam-era bricks and archaeological site excavation. The first three more than 700 objects were found and these have phases of excavation at Keeladi were conducted by been sent for testing. the Archaeological Survey of India while the fourth and fifth phases were conducted by the Tamil Nadu Findings: Archaeology Department. Brick wall found in the excavation: Phases of Keezhadi Excavation: Almost 48 square pits have been cut and First phase: various structures and artifacts have been found, including frosts, brick walls, roof tiles, pottery, In June 2015, an Archaeological Survey of mimic accessories, skeletal tools, iron Vel, and India group led by Amarnath Ramakrishnan started Tamil-Brahmi letter-etched plates. This place is the first phase of the excavation in the area near the considered to be Pandyan dynasty's city called Vaigai River in Keezhadi. "Perumanalur", the pioneer of literature. The use of fired brick, the size of the building complex, an Second phase: array of pots placed in such a way that it must have been used either as a lamp or for painting, and The second phase began on 2 January other finds suggest that the settlement is of a more 2016. Various documents, including medical jars, civilized population than was previously suspected antique kitchen wells, and factory and government during the Sangam period. seals, were found. At the end of the second phase, more than six thousand artifacts were found. It was Buildings: confirmed that these artifacts were 2,200 years old when they were tested by radiocarbon dating. More than 10 buildings have been found in the bottom of the settlement. This is a strong Third phase: proof that this was a well-developed city. The excavation has disproved the claim that there were The third phase of the excavation was no buildings during the Sangam period. conducted under the chairmanship Sri Ramanan of the Archaeological Survey of India from January Canals and sewage system: 2017. The work ended on 30 September 2017. In the third phase, 16 digging sites were selected, Water supply and wastewater are taking up a total area of 400 square meters, which considered as important landmarks of civil is 80 acres of land. development. At the bottom of the settlement, there are buildings with a sewage canal facility made of Fourth phase: ceramic tubes. The fourth phase of the excavation was Ring wells and brick walls: conducted between 2017 and 2018, bringing out 5,820 artefacts. This phase was conducted by the Ancient earthenware and ring wells have Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department while the been found. Archaeologist Velappan said that this first three phases were conducted by the proves the ancient tradition of Tamils indicating Archaeological Survey of India. Six carbon that they used these wells in river shores and ponds samples collected from the fourth phase of for water. Brick buildings are considered rare in excavation at Keeladi were sent to Beta Analytic, www. jespublication.com Page No:505 Vol 11, Issue 3, March/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 th ancient times but a large number of brick buildings survived in 6 century BCE. Thus keeladi have been found. excavation findings and different dimensions of the “Language War”, have again proved that Tamil is Pottery: the oldest Language. Ornaments and antiquities: The Archaeologists they found different types of potteries like the rouletted, arretine-type There are sponges, marble, agate beads, ceramics brought by merchants demonstrate green, yellow and blue glass beads found here. business connections with the Roman Empire. It is There are also elephant tusks, copper ointment and noteworthy that such products have been sheets of wire. The various rare artefacts including discovered. Furthermore, there are also black and iron edged corners, gold ornaments, stylus, red parchment fragments from the earliest history, terracotta stamps, diaphragm tiles, firefly toys are and white-colored black, red papillae and reddish- found. The settlement lies on the banks of the river pitted pieces. There Tamil words engraved with the Vaigai and it reflects the ancient culture of Tamil potteries that mention the names of individuals like people. According to V.Vedachalam, who served 'Aathan', 'Uthiran' and 'Thiesan'. as a domain expert for the excavation, dated the excavated remains between 5th century B.C. and 3rd Pottery: century A.D. The occurrence of seven gold ornaments, copper article, beads of gems, more Tamil-Brahmi script and graffiti marks: than 4000 beads of semiprecious stones, glass beads, shell bangles, ivory bangles and well crafted In the fourth phase of excavations at household utensils which indicate the culture Keezhadi, 72 potsherds with Tamil-Brahmi script richness and economic prosperity of Sangam Age.
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