The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the premier organization for archaeological research, has given Tamil Nadu the green light to continue excavations at four significant locations. This undertaking, in addition to enriching our understanding of India’s extensive historical timeline, promises to fill a perceived 1000 years gap between the Sangam Age and Indus Valley civilisation.
The Excavation Sites
The locations given permission for excavation are Keeladi, Kodumanal, Sivagalai, and Adichanallur.
Keeladi is situated in the Sivaganga district on the banks of the River Vaigai. It’s a noted Sangam Age urban settlement. The village of Kodumanal, located on the northern banks of the Noyyal River—a Cauvery tributary—in the Erode district, was once a thriving ancient trade city known as Kodumanam, as stated in Sangam Literature’s Pathitrupathu. Sivagalai, a village in the Tuticorin district, was nicknamed ‘Small Ceylon’ by the British. In 2018, evidence of megalithic archaeological remains were discovered there. Lastly, Adichanallur—located in the Thoothukudi district—is where ASI found iron-age burial sites dating from 1500 BC to 500 BC in 2004.
| Excavation Site | Location | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Keeladi | Sivaganga district on river Vaigai bank | Sangam Age urban settlement |
| Kodumanal | Erode district, on northern banks of Noyyal river | Ancient trade city mentioned in Sangam Literature |
| Sivagalai | Tuticorin district | Megalithic archaeological remains found in 2018 |
| Adichanallur | Thoothukudi district | Iron-age burial sites unearthed in 2004 |
About the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
The ASI is the flagship body responsible for archaeology-based research, the scientific examination of archaeological sites, and the conservation and preservation of protected monuments. Founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham, the organization’s first Director-General, it operates as an attached office under the Department of Culture, Ministry of Culture.
Sangam Age: A Historical Overview
‘Sangam,’ a term derived from Sanskrit ‘sangha,’ translates to ‘a group of persons or an association’ in Tamil. A majority of the Sangam literature emerged from the third Sangam and provides a lens into life around the beginning of the Christian era. The era to which this literature belongs is known as the Sangam Age.
