ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS AT THOOTUKUDI :
On behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Tamil Nadu, the second phase of excavation work began on February 26 at Sivakalai near Adichanallur and Srivaikuntam, and the first phase of excavation at Korkai on the coast.
WORKING OFFICIALS :
Excavations are being carried out under the leadership of Director Prabhakaran. More than 15 pits have been dug for the excavation and more than 40 workers are involved. More than 40 elderly miners were found during the excavation of Shiva.
PARALYSED BY COVID – 19.
It was once again resumed by the government of Tamilnadu which previously suspended its excavation process on the month of may due to COVID -19.
EXCAVATION IN SIVALAGAI :
Excavations in the Sivakalai area have uncovered 16 burial urns in a single pit. 5 of these burial urns have a lid on it. The 10 burial urns are huge in size.
Each old man’s hut is 2 to 4 feet high. Also found are pots, pottery tiles, and Tamil Brahmi inscriptions. Analysts are excited about this turn.
WHAT IS BURIAL UNRS?
The burial mounds used in the past to bury the bodies of the dead are called old miners. Manimegala refers to this practice as ‘Kaviyor with Thazhi’ Elderly people have been found in various parts of Tamil Nadu in various sizes ranging from half a foot to seven feet. Archaeological excavations have revealed that this method was widely followed in the river plains of Tamil Nadu.
OVERALL EXCAVATION :
In sum, the excavation resulted in unearthing 31 urns having differences in sizes which also contains the remnants of humans like jaw, teeth bone, etc. Adds on, 96 Old antiquities representing the Tamil culture have been also unveiled.
Minor findings like ashes and small pots are also noted in this excavation. The Excavation has the potential to represent the Tamil culture mentioned in the Sangam literature dated 6th B.C but yet to be proven out.
Moreover, adichanallur which dates back to 3800BCE was considered by the archaeologist of Tamil Nadu that it would be the birthland of the Tamil Ancient Civilization. The recent excavation works on this place show relative references and proves that this consideration is true at all.
Officials said the work would continue until the start of the northeast monsoon in September. Important information about an ancient civilization in this region It is expected that a good number of burial urns and metals used by the ancient Tamils were discovered.
ADICHANALLUR: THE CRADLE OF ANCIENT TAMIL CIVILIZATION :
Adichanallur is one of the important pre-historic sites in Tamil Nadu. The excavations are done at this place during the times of British India and also in 2004 and 2005. But its excavation report is still not officially released by ASI (ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA)
In 1876, a Team that included Dr.Jagor visited it during the British raj on India and started excavating it and found many earthen pots of great quality.
Furthermore, adichanallur has its unique mention in Rhea’s 1915 “Catalog of the Prehistoric Antiquities from Adichanallur and Perambair”.
