Lok Sabha Question No. 217 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-18
Subject: Archaeological Excavations in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: D. M. Kathir Anand, S. Gnanathiraviam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 217

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2022

## ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN TAMIL NADU

## 217. SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND:

## SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has done any new archaeological explorations and excavations in Ancient Historical and Dravidian sites in South India and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether archaeological remnants belonging to Sangam period in ancient Tamil Nadu have  been  recovered  from  Tamil  Nadu  in  various  ancient  sites  like  Poompuhar  and Korkai;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether ASI proposes willing to associate with the State Department of Archaeology, Tamil Nadu in the marine exploration works and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

## (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) Yes, Sir. Archaeological Survey of India is conducting archaeological excavations at Vadakkupattu and Adichanallur.
- (b) Yes,  Sir.  Archaeological  remnants  belonging  to  Sangam  period  have  been  found  at
- & number of sites.
- (c) The details are at Annexure- I.
- (d) At present, there is no such proposal under consideration.

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  &  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 217 FOR 18.07.2022.

DETAILS OF SITES FROM WHERE ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMANANTS BELONGING TO SANGAM PERIOD HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FROM ANCIENT TAMIL NADU.

S.No.

Name of site

Distirct

Nature of remnants

1. Kaveripattinam

Myladuthurai

A  massive  brick  structures  of Buddhist stupa, the remains of Buddha Pata, sculpture.

2. Manigiramam

Myladuthurai

A  brick Warf  near  the sea shore and associate of ceramics.

3. Thondi

Ramanathapuram

The trial excavation was conducted  at  a  mound  near Thondi Amman Temple. Potteries and bricks belonging to  late  period  like  coarse  red ware were collected.

4. Alagankulam

Ramanathapuram

The  most  significant  findings of the excavation are hundreds of potsherds of the Mediterranean region. They include Rouletted ware and Amphorae  jar  pieces.  Pieces of Red ware with Tamil Brahmi letters have been found.  They  are  assignable  to the  first  century  BCE.  Other antiquities include beads, perforated  tiles,  and  bricks  in various  levels.  Three  Roman coins were unearthed.  They contain the figure of the head of the Roman emperor on one side and the figure of goddess of victory, holding a globe on the  other  side.  The  legend  on them  shows  that  the  Roman Emperor Valentine II who ruled  around  375  CE  issued the coins.

5. Kayalpattinam

Thoothukudi

A  few  ceramics of  sangam period  such  as  Black-and-red ware, sherds on black slipped, plain red ware.

|   6. | Korkai       | Thoothukudi   | Black-and-red ware, sherds on black slipped, plain red, and red slipped wares, terracotta tiles also found. The bricks also available in this site (45cmx28cm x7.5cms). Yielded number of Graffiti and inscribed potsherds bearing Tamil Brahmi scripts. The Antiquities from this site consists various object copper and iron, torso in terracotta, bone earlobes and arrow- heads. The pearl-oysters found in various level of the trenches.   |
|------|--------------|---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    7 | Adichanallur | Thoothukudi   | Black-and-red ware and red ware with associate pots such as bowl, lid, ring stand, plate, shallow bowl, etc., Copper object such as lamps and rings, bangles, Copper Coins, iron implements such as Arrow head, Antimony rod.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|    8 | Keeladi      | Sivaganga     | Coins, Brick Structure, Semi- precious beads, Galss Beads, Tamil Brahmi pot sherds, Graffiticmarcks, ware with associate pots such as bowl, lid, ring stand, plate, shallow bowl, etc., The lamps and rings, bangles, Copper Coins, iron implements such as Arrow head, Antimony rod.                                                                                                                                                             |
|    9 | Porunthal    | Dindigul      | Glass, Semi-precious beads, Coins, Brick Structure, Beads, Tamil Brahmi pot sherds, Graffiti marks, ware with associate pots such as bowl, lid, ring stand, plate, shallow bowl, etc., The lamps and rings, bangles, Copper Coins, iron                                                                                                                                                                                                           |

|   10. | Kodumanal   | Erode          | Glass, Semi-precious beads, Brick Structure, Beads, Tamil Brahmi pot sherds, Graffiti marks, ware with associate pots such as bowl, lid, ring stand, plate, shallow bowl, etc., The Bone Tools, lamps and rings, bangles, Copper Coins, iron implements such as Arrow head, Sword.   |
|-------|-------------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    11 | Uraiyur     | Trichy         | Beads, Brick Structure, Tamil Brahmi pot sherds, Graffiti marks, ware with associate pots such as bowl, lid, ring stand, plate, shallow bowl, etc.,                                                                                                                                  |
|    12 | Karur       | Karur          | Brick Structure, Beads, Tamil Brahmi pot sherds, Graffiti marks, ware with associate pots such as bowl, lid, ring stand, plate, shallow bowl, etc.,                                                                                                                                  |
|    13 | Perur       | Coimbatore     | Graffiti marks ,Brick Structure, Beads, , ware with associate pots such as bowl, lid, ring stand, plate, shallow bowl, etc.,                                                                                                                                                         |
|    14 | Vallam      | Thanajvur      | Tamil-Brahmi pot sherds, Graffiti marks, ware with associate pots such as bowl, lid, ring stand, plate, shallow bowl, etc.,                                                                                                                                                          |
|    15 | Teriruveli  | Ramanathapuram | Graffiti marks, Tamil-Brahmi pot sherds, ware with associate pots such as bowl, lid, ring stand, plate, shallow bowl, etc.,                                                                                                                                                          |
|    16 | Mangudi     | Virudhunagar   | Tamil-Brahmi pot sherds, Graffiti marks, ware with associate pots such as bowl, lid, ring stand, etc.,                                                                                                                                                                               |