Keezhadi: The Archaeological Marvel Rewriting Indian History | Keeladi Excavation Findings

In those days, it was prosperous. I was very happy when I saw it. In those days, we didn't know what industrial revolution was. So many things were done. I can't even imagine it. It takes your history. It proves that people were civilized. People were living. People were colonizing. And people were having constructions. Huge grand constructions. And they were living here 2500 years back. Keeladi, a small village in Tamil Nadu's Sivagangai district, has gained significant attention in recent years. While tourists used to visit Madurai primarily for its famous Meenakshi Amman temple, nowadays anyone visiting Madurai wouldn't want to miss the chance to explore Keeladi excavations located just 12 kilometers away. Excavations at Keeladi began in 2013 and have uncovered a vast urban settlement dating back to the Sangam period estimated to be around 2500 years old. The artifacts found at Keeladi are believed to be from 580 BCE which is older than the Maurya Empire that existed from 322 BCE to 183 BCE. This discovery challenges what we previously knew about the region's history and may reshape our understanding of it. Among the significant findings at the Keeladi archaeological site are burial urns. These urns were used to bury the remains of the deceased in ancient times and are typically made of fired clay in various shapes and sizes. The study of these urns helps us learn about the social, religious and cultural aspects of the ancient Keeladi civilization. According to writer Muthukrishnan, initially all that was found in Tamil Nadu were urn burials. However, the discovery of the habitats at the site provided evidence that everything mentioned in the Sangam literature actually existed here. When Keeladi digging started, we had streets over there, we had houses over there. So we got the, what do you say, the bones of oxes that used to go to Jallikattu and we got a lot of, what do you say, we got more than 50,000 artifacts there. So we got utensils with names written on them. We got ornaments. We got like the games men. You got a lot of dyes made of ivory. You got everything in Keeladi. And at that time we got a lot of carnelian beads that were from Rome. We got the Rowlatt ware that's believed to be from Rome. So we had a lot of trade between Rome and Tamil Nadu. And like this, all that we were talking about got established. On March 5, 2023, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated a museum that showcases the archaeological findings from the Keeladi site in the district. This museum covers an area of over 31,000 square feet and has been established at an estimated cost of Rs. 18.43 crore. During excavations, archaeologists have discovered pottery shards, inscriptions and graffiti with Brahmi script markings on various objects providing evidence of written communication and documentation practices of that time. These Brahmi scripts also highlight the connection between Keeladi and the Indus Valley civilization. Another significant discovery is the presence of iron slag indicating that iron smelting was practiced in Keeladi. Iron smelting involves extracting iron from iron ore using heat in furnaces. The recovered slag serves as evidence of iron production activities. The discovery of beads at Keeladi sheds light on the ornamental and aesthetic practices of the ancient civilization that inhabited the region. Numerous beads made from materials such as fireclay, stone, shell and metal have been unearthed showcasing the artistic skills of ancient artisans and also signifying that trade had occurred during that time. When asked about the significance of Madurai's role in Sangam literature and the Keeladi excavations, Muthukrishnan mentioned that these findings are not only linked to Madurai but also suggest that future excavations in other southern regions may surprise us with their discoveries. So it is like one period where things are opening up faster. So it is not only connected with Madurai. It is now, Madurai got fame as Keeladi was near Madurai but now the findings are getting done on a bigger canvas in many cities. So I think that in Erode, in Tarapuram, all over in future we may be getting it. So it would be marking the geography of the life over here also in future.