Keezhadi

Excavations

Main article: Keezhadi excavation site

An archaeological survey team under Archaeologist [[K. Amarnath Ramakrishna|Amarnath Ramakrishna ]] was first conducted in 2013 in the vicinity of the Vaigai river from Theni district to Ramanathapuram district where the river meets the sea. During the study, 293 sites, including Keezhadi, were identified to have archaeological residues. The first three phases of excavation at Keezhadi were conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India, and they dropped it from doing further research. A public interest litigation was filed and following that the court ordered the regional depart to carry forward, following which the fourth and fifth phases were conducted by the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department.

Carbon nanomaterials in Keezhadi pottery

A team of researchers identified pottery shards at Keezhadi that contain carbon nanomaterials, including single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Keezhadi Heritage Museum

Keezhadi Heritage museum was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on 5 March 2023 in Sivaganga, close to the historic archaeological site which was discovered in 2014. The museum has been established at a cost of ₹18.42 crore across 31,000 square feet of land. Built in a Karaikudi based traditional Chettinad style, the architecture displays artefacts and antiquities excavated from the site since 2017 in the present-day Sivaganga district by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology. On display would be artefacts like dice made of ivory and terracotta, male and female figurines made of terracotta, iron dagger, and punch-mark coins. The museum will also display replicas of the trenches and some of the urns that were unearthed in Konthagai, believed to be the burial site of inhabitants of Keezhadi. The museum has six display halls – only ground floor in three, two with mezzanine floors and one with mezzanine and first floor – and an auditorium where visitors will be treated to documentaries on excavations in Keezhadi and their significance.

Transport

Air

Nearest airport to Keezhadi is Madurai International Airport, 15.2 km away.

Rail

Nearest railhead is Silaiman Railway Station, 2.7 km away. Nearest major railhead is Madurai Junction Railway Station 13.4 km away.

References

References

1. Dennis S. Jesudasan. (20 September 2019). "Keezhadi excavations: Sangam era older than previously thought, finds study". The Hindu.
2. (17 October 2019). "Experts Question Dates of Script in Tamil Nadu's Keeladi Excavation Report". [[The Wire (India)]].
3. The Hindu Net Desk. (16 May 2017). "Keezhadi excavation leads to ancient civilisation on the banks of Vaigai". The Hindu.
4. Sruthisagar Yamunan. (11 May 2017). "Sangam-era site at Keezhadi is as complex as Indus Valley, proof of a glorious Tamil civilisation". Scroll.in.
5. The Hindu Net Desk. (13 June 2017). "Keezhadi excavation: what was found and what they mean". The Hindu.
6. (13 November 2020). "Discovery of carbon nanotubes in sixth century BC potteries from Keeladi, India". Scientific Reports.
7. "CM Stalin inaugurates museum displaying artefacts excavated from Keeladi site".
8. "Tamil Nadu CM Stalin inaugurates Keeladi museum in Sivaganga".
9. "Tamil Nadu: Chettinad architecture for museum at Sangam-era site of Keeladi".