Keeladi Archaeological Site
Keeladi Archaeological Site
- Keeladi is an archaeological site located in Sivagangai district on the banks of river vaigai. It is an urban settlement of the Sangam age. Excavation work, during this season, had yielded 5820 antiquities with enough cultural traits in the form of structural activity (brick structures, terracotta ring wells, fallen roofing tiles with double holes and deeply finger pressed grooves to draw rainwater). Antiquities like few pieces of golden ornaments, broken portions, copper objects, iron implements, terracotta gamesmen (chessman), hopscotches, ear ornaments, spindle whorls, figurines and portions besides beads of terracotta, glass, semi-precious stones.
- Popular ceramic types like a finer variety of Black and Red ware, Blackware, Black Polished ware, Redware, Rouletted ware, few pieces of Arretines were also found. A good number of Tamil Brahmi sherds also have been unearthed.
- All these finds indicate the cultural richness of the ancient civilization of the Tamils of this region has its proximity to the temple city Madurai. The excavation threw up strong clues about the existence of a Tamil civilisation that had trade links with other regions in the country and abroad.
Location
- Kodumanal is a village located in Erode district, Tamil Nadu. It was once a 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.
Sangam Period
- They provided significant archaeological evidence to the descriptions of Tamil poets belonging to the Sangam period. Tamil Sangam, an assembly of poets, had its seat in Madurai between 4th century BCE and 2nd century BCE. The works of this period are collectively called Sangam Literature. Pandya rulers of Madurai patronised Sangam literature.