Excavation Sites of Sangam Age | 26 Oct 2019

  • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has approved the Tamil Nadu’s request to continue excavations at four locations including Keeladi.
  • This development is expected to bridge the 1000 years gap in history between the Sangam Age and the Indus Valley civilization.
  • The excavation will be undertaken at the following sites:
    • Keeladi-
      • Located in Sivaganga district on the banks of river Vaigai.
      • It is an urban settlement of Sangam Age.
    • Kodumanal-
      • Village located in Erode district, TN.
      • Flourishing ancient trade city known as Kodumanam (as inscribed in Pathitrupathu of Sangam Literature).
      • It is located on the northern banks of Noyyal River (a tributary of the Cauvery).
    • Sivagalai-
      • Village in the Tuticorin district, TN.
      • It was once known as ‘Small Ceylon’ by Britishers.
      • Evidence of megalithic archaeological remains were found here in 2018.
    • Adichanallur-
      • Located in Thoothukudi district, TN.
      • In 2004, iron-age (1500 BC to 500 BC) burial sites were unearthed by ASI from here.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

  • ASI is the premier organization for the archaeological research, scientific analysis, excavation of archaeological sites, conservation and preservation of protected monuments.
  • It is an attached office under the Department of Culture, Ministry of Culture.
  • ASI was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham- the first Director-General of ASI.

Sangam Age

  • The word ‘Sangam’ is the Tamil form of the Sanskrit word ‘Sangha’ which means a group of persons or an association.
  • The Sangam literature was largely consolidated from the third Sangam and throws information on conditions of life of people around the beginning of the Christian era.
  • The Age of the Sangam is the age to which the Sangam literature belonged.

Source: IE