Lok Sabha Question No. 358 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Excavations in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN, V. SATHYABAMA, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN, BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO. 358

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## EXCAVATIONS IN TAMIL NADU

358. SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R.K.: SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA: SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN: SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  ancient  artefacts  and  articles  found  during archaeological excavations of ancient sites in Tamil Nadu have been moved out of the State and are kept in excavation branch at Mysore;
- (b) if so, the details of the antiquities found along with the list of publications and memoirs made on various archaeological excavations in Tamil Nadu by ASI and the reasons for keeping the articles at Mysore instead of Tamil Nadu;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposal to keep the artefacts in Tamil Nadu by building an on-site museum and if  so,  the  details  and  if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  alongwith  the  funds  allocated  by  the Government to conduct more such excavations;
- (d) whether the  Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered some significant evidence of very old civilization during excavation in various places of Tamil Nadu in the recent past and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Chinese  made  artefacts  recovered  in  Ukkirankottai  excavation  site  suggest  trade  links between the Pandya Kingdom and China and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE & MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENIVORMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

## (DR.  MAHESH SHARMA )

- (a) The excavated artifacts of season 2014-2015 from Keeladi, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu are kept in the  Excavation  Branch-VI  Bangalore,  whereas  the  antiquities  of  2015-2016  and  2016-2017  season have been shifted to the office of Archaeological Survey of India at Chennai Circle as per the direction of Hon'ble Madras High Court, Madurai for the purpose of report writing.
- (b) The list of antiquities discovered by ASI during excavation at Keeladi is at Annexure-I. A preliminary report of Keeladi excavation has been submitted. The list of archaeological excavation carried out by ASI is at Annexure-II. As per practice the materials  discovered  during  excavation  remains  with  the  concerned  excavating agency for report writing study purpose and safe keeping.
- (c) As  per  Hon'ble  High  Court,  Tamil  Nadu  order,  the  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  should  set  up  a museum at Keeladi with financial support of the State Govt. The Govt. of Tamil Nadu has allotted 2 Acres of land also.  During the season 2017-2018 permission has been accorded to Department of Archaeology, Tamil  Nadu to carry  out  excavation  at  Keeladi  by  the  Standing  Committee  of  Central Advisory Board of Archaeology.
- (d) Archaeological Survey of India has carried out excavation during the year 2005-2006 at Saluvamnkuppam, 2007-2008 Siruthavur District Kanchipuram and 2010-2011 Malaiyadipatti District Pudukottai,  Tamil  Nadu.  The  excavations  at  Keeladi  has  revealed  early  historic  remains  tentatively datable to c.300 BC-300 CE.
- (e) No Chinese-made artefacts were recovered from the excavation.

## Annexure-I

## Statement Referred to in reply part  (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 358 for 18.12.2017

## List of Objects recovered from the Keeladi Excavations during the seasons 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17

|   Sl.No | Description/    | Material                          | Number of objects obtained in 2014-15 and 2015-16   | Number of objects obtained in 2016- 17   |
|---------|-----------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Antimony Rod    | Copper                            | 14                                                  | 1                                        |
|       2 | Animal Figurine | Terracotta                        | 2                                                   | 1                                        |
|       3 | Antler          | Antler                            | 1                                                   |                                          |
|       4 | Arrowhead       | Bone                              | 43                                                  |                                          |
|       5 |                 | Antler                            | 3                                                   |                                          |
|       6 |                 | Iron                              | 1                                                   |                                          |
|       7 | Axe             | Iron                              | 1                                                   |                                          |
|       8 |                 | Stone                             | 1                                                   |                                          |
|       9 | Ball            | Stone                             | 15                                                  | 2                                        |
|      10 |                 | Terracotta                        | 16                                                  | 2                                        |
|      11 | Bangle pieces   | Copper                            | 18                                                  | 1                                        |
|      12 |                 | Glass                             | 43                                                  | 4                                        |
|      13 |                 | Shell                             | 61                                                  | 4                                        |
|      14 | Bead            | Agate/Banded Agate                | 21                                                  | 10                                       |
|      15 |                 | Amethyst                          |                                                     | 9                                        |
|      16 |                 | Beryl                             | 1                                                   |                                          |
|      17 |                 | Carnelian including etched        | 34                                                  | 9 including one etched                   |
|      18 |                 | Copper                            | 8                                                   | 1                                        |
|      19 |                 | Crystal                           | 2                                                   | 13                                       |
|      20 |                 | Faience                           |                                                     | 8                                        |
|      21 |                 | Glass                             | 2633                                                | 936                                      |
|      22 |                 | Gold                              | 3                                                   | 2                                        |
|      23 |                 | Iron                              | 1                                                   |                                          |
|      24 |                 | Ivory                             | 2                                                   |                                          |
|      25 |                 | Jasper                            |                                                     | 10                                       |
|      26 |                 | Paste                             | 603                                                 | 435                                      |
|      27 |                 | Pearl                             | 6                                                   |                                          |
|      28 |                 | Quartz                            | 41                                                  | 7                                        |
|      29 |                 | Unidentified Semi Precious Stones | 31                                                  |                                          |
|      30 |                 | Shell                             | 6                                                   |                                          |
|      31 |                 | Soapstone                         | 68                                                  | 9                                        |
|      32 |                 | Unidentified Stones               | 8                                                   |                                          |
|      33 |                 | Terracotta                        | 308                                                 | 41                                       |
|      34 |                 | Unidentified material             | 16                                                  | 32                                       |
|      35 | Bell            | Copper                            |                                                     | 1                                        |
|      36 | Bone Points     | Bone                              | 10                                                  |                                          |
|      37 | Cake            | Terracotta                        | 13                                                  | 2                                        |
|      38 | Celt/Chisel     | Dolerite/Basalt                   | 7                                                   |                                          |
|      39 |                 | Iron                              | 1                                                   | 3                                        |
|      40 | Coin            | Copper                            | 7                                                   | 6 (one lead?)                            |

|   41. | Comb                       | Ivory                        | 2            | 1             |
|-------|----------------------------|------------------------------|--------------|---------------|
|    42 | Conch                      | Shell                        | 8            |               |
|    43 | Cowrie                     | Shell                        | 79           |               |
|    44 | Crucible                   | Terracotta                   | 1            |               |
|    45 | Dagger                     | Iron                         | 2            |               |
|    46 | Flakes/Debitage            | Chert                        | 7            | 5             |
|    47 | Horn                       | Horn                         | 1            |               |
|    48 | Dice                       | Shell                        | 1            |               |
|    49 |                            | Terracotta                   | 3            |               |
|    50 | Disc                       | Glass                        | 1            |               |
|    51 |                            | Stone                        | 4            |               |
|    52 |                            | Terracotta                   | 562          | 20            |
|    53 | Door Socket                | Stone                        | 2            |               |
|    54 | Earlobe                    | Terracotta                   | 54           | 10            |
|    55 | Figurine                   | Terracotta                   | 15           |               |
|    56 | Gamesmen                   | Stone/Ivory                  | 3            | 2             |
|    57 |                            | Terracotta                   | 95           | 22            |
|    58 | Gold Objects               |                              |              | 4             |
|    59 | Grinding stone             | Granite/Basalt               | 6            |               |
|    60 | Hopscotch                  | Stone                        | 1            |               |
|    61 |                            | Terracotta                   | 13           | 98            |
|    62 | Iron Miscellaneous objects | Iron                         | 3            |               |
|    63 | Inscribed sherds           |                              | 75 (approx.) | 20 (1 stone?) |
|    64 | Knife                      | iron                         | 7            |               |
|    65 | Lamp                       | Terracotta                   | 9            | 2             |
|    66 | Knob of lids               | Terracotta                   | 19           |               |
|    67 | Nail                       | Iron                         | 72           | 39            |
|    68 | Pendent                    | Stone                        | 1            |               |
|    69 |                            | Copper                       | 1            |               |
|    70 |                            | TC                           | 1            | 3             |
|    71 | Pestle/Quern               | Stone                        | 7            | 5             |
|    72 | Pipe                       | Copper                       | 1            |               |
|    73 |                            | Iron                         | 1            |               |
|    74 |                            | Terracotta                   | 3            |               |
|    75 | Point                      | Bone                         | 7            |               |
|    76 | Ring                       | Copper                       | 5            |               |
|    77 |                            | Glass                        | 3            |               |
|    78 |                            | Iron                         | 4            |               |
|    79 |                            | Ivory                        | 1            |               |
|    80 |                            | Terracotta                   | 3            |               |
|    81 | Sickle                     | Iron                         | 3            |               |
|    82 | Small pot                  | Terracotta                   | 1            |               |
|    83 | Spearhead                  | Iron                         | 15           |               |
|    84 | Spindle whorl              | Terracotta with/without iron | 23           |               |
|    85 | Spoon                      | Terracotta                   | 1            |               |
|    86 | Spout                      | Terracotta                   | 11           |               |
|    87 | Other objects              |                              |              | 98            |

## Annexure-II

## Statement Referred to in reply part  (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 358 for 18.12.2017

Excavations  carried  out  by  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  in  Tamil  Nadu  in Recent Past

|   Sl.No. | Year                | Name of the site.                                |
|----------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | 2005-06 and 2006-07 | Saluvankuppam, Districrt Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu |
|        2 | 2007-08             | Siruthavur, District Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu     |
|        3 | 2010-11             | Malaiyadipatti, District Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu  |