Paper: GS – I, Subject: History – art and culture, Topic: Broad / overlap, Issue: The Keeladi Excavations.
Context:
Archaeologist K. Amarnath Ramakrishna, known for the Keeladi excavations, was transferred from Delhi to Greater Noida. His role was reduced amid controversy over his refusal to revise a 982-page report on Keeladi. The issue triggered a political tussle between the Centre and Tamil Nadu.
Key Takeaways:
About Keeladi Findings:
- Location: Keeladi is a village in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, situated along the Vaigai River, about 12 km southeast of Madurai.
- Excavation History: Excavations began in 2015, initially led by the ASI and later by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology after a period of administrative dispute.
- Artefacts Unearthed: Over 18,000 artefacts have been discovered, including pottery, inscribed potsherds, gold ornaments, copper articles, semi-precious stones, shell and ivory bangles, glass beads, spindle whorls, terracotta seals, and weaving tools.
- Pottery and Inscriptions: The site has yielded heaps of pottery and over 120 potsherds with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, indicating the long survival of the script and literacy in the region.
- Urban Settlement: Findings suggest Keeladi was a well-planned urban settlement with evidence of industries such as pottery, weaving, dyeing, and bead-making.
- Trade and Lifestyle: Artefacts like agate and carnelian beads indicate trade networks, while items such as dice and hopscotch pieces’ reveal leisure activities.
- Chronology: The findings have pushed the Sangam Age in Tamil Nadu back to around 800 BCE, suggesting a much older and advanced civilization than previously thought.
- Link to Other Civilisations: Some symbols on Keeladi artefacts resemble those of the Indus Valley Civilization, though a cultural gap of about 1,000 years remains. Scholars hope further studies will clarify these connections.
The Disputes Between the Archaeological and the ASI:
The Keeladi controversy encapsulates a larger struggle over identity, heritage, and the interpretation of history in modern India, highlighting the intersection of archaeology, politics, and local pride.
https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-hindu-kolkata-9WW9/20250627/281749865341557
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
â—‰ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
â—‰ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
â—‰ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040
