Keeladi
Excavations: A Deep Dive into Tamil Nadu’s Ancient Civilisation
Why Keeladi
Matters for UPSC Aspirants
The Keeladi
excavations in Tamil Nadu have been a significant topic for UPSC aspirants,
especially in Ancient History, Art & Culture, and Tamil Nadu’s Sangam Age
connections. The recent developments regarding the Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI) allowing retired archaeologist P.S. Sriraman to prepare excavation
reports add a new dimension to this archaeological discovery.
Key
Highlights of Keeladi Excavations
1. Discovery of an Urban Sangam-Era
Civilization
o The first two phases (2015-2017)
led by K. Amarnath Ramakrishna revealed brick structures, pottery, beads, and
Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, suggesting a 2,200-year-old urban settlement.
o Findings indicated trade links with
Rome and Southeast Asia, reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s historical significance.
2. Controversy Over Continuity of
Findings
o After Ramakrishna’s transfer to
Assam in 2017, P.S. Sriraman took over the third phase and reported no
continuity in brick structures, leading to debates.
o Tamil Nadu State Archaeology
Department continued excavations (Phase 4 onwards), unearthing more artefacts,
including ring wells, terracotta items, and evidence of industrial activity.
3.
3. Recent Developments
o ASI allowed Sriraman (retired) to
submit pending reports on Keeladi (Phase 3) and Kodumanal excavations.
o K. Amarnath Ramakrishna refused to
revise his report, standing by his conclusions on the Sangam-era urban
settlement.
Why This is
Important for UPSC?
• Ancient Indian History: Keeladi
provides evidence of a literate, urbanised Tamil society contemporary to the
Gangetic plains’ Mauryan era.
• Sangam Age Link: The findings
support Sangam literature descriptions of advanced trade, governance, and
culture.
• Archaeological Methods: The
differing interpretations highlight how archaeological conclusions can vary
based on methodology.
• Tamil Nadu’s Demand for More
Autonomy in Excavations: The state’s push for independent excavations reflects
federalism issues in cultural preservation.
Possible
UPSC Questions
1. "The Keeladi excavations
challenge the north-centric narrative of early Indian urbanisation."
Discuss.
2. How do the Keeladi findings reshape
our understanding of the Sangam Age?
3. Examine the significance of
Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions found in Keeladi.
Conclusion
Keeladi is
not just an archaeological site but a game-changer in understanding India’s
civilisational history. For UPSC aspirants, keeping track of new reports,
controversies, and state vs. central roles in archaeology is crucial.
No comments:
Post a Comment