CHENNAI: The archaeological site, Keezhadi, in Sivaganga district continues to throw up more antiquities proving the richness and glories of the Tamil culture and heritage. Among the latest findings are potsherds with Tamil Brahmi engravings and a golden needle.
“We have collected potsherds with Tamil Brahmi script. They are deciphered as Kuviranathan and Ara,” an officer of the department of Archaeology supervising the expedition told Express on Tuesday. The term Kuviran had a mention in an inscription, Pethalai Kuviran, found at Vikkiramangalam in Madurai dating back to the 2nd century BC.
Experts have interpreted the phrase, saying Pethalai refers to a place and Kuviran to a person. The word Senkuviran is also found in the inscription at the same place in Tamil Brahmi letters, the officer explained.
The experts in the State department of Archaeology are furthering deciphering the potsherd engravings.
Stumbling upon a golden needle with a length of 3-4 cm is another significant finding made at Keezhadi where the department of Archaeology hit the ground for the first time after allegations of the Central agency, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), going slow on excavations and documenting the evidences which are enough to prove the existence of an ancient urban civilisation in the State. The ASI had held three phases of expedition in Keezhadi where it has collected 8,300 artefacts. Carbon sample tests have revealed them as dating back to 2200 years.
Days after launching excavations, the excavators found a ring well. More than 2000 artefacts and antiquities have been found in the excavations so far.