Excavations at the Keeladi cluster

Subject: History

Context:

Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology released an interim status report with the sixth phase of the excavations at the Keeladi cluster and the excavations at other sites to come to a close in September for the year.

Concept:

• In the current season of excavations, a fine variety of red-slipped ware containing Tamizhi letters was found embedded in the soil at Keeladi, apart from semi-precious stones, weighing units and terracotta seals.
• At Kondagai, a burial site, 40 urn burials, one pit burial and 16 surface burials were identified. Also, 17 human skeletons and two animal skeletons were unearthed with bowls of red-ware, red-slipped-ware and black-and-red ware.
• At Adichanallur, Microlithic tools were found, consisting of blade, point and scraper made of chert.
• The excavation at Sivagalai, being undertaken to know the Iron Age burial culture and locate the earliest settlement of the region, yielded finds such as potsherds, Mesolithic tools and other artefacts.
• Kodumanal excavation reaped Tamizhi inscribed potsherds and structures built of stone masonry.
• Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology has tied-up with nearly 10 institutions to scientifically analyse the excavated material. Madurai Kamaraj University has taken steps to establish an ‘ancient DNA lab’ at a cost of ₹3 crore and this would help in faster turnaround times of identifying the artefacts’ antiquity