The minister said archaeologists, including former excavation director Amarnath Ramakrishna, and successive administrations had consistently maintained the significance of the Keezhadi discoveries.
Speaking to reporters, Venkatesan said Ramakrishnan had conducted the excavations when the AIADMK was in power and was transferred while the same government was in office.
Ramesh Matsethung, Director of the Keezhadi excavation, on Thursday said that in previous excavations, pipes and channel were found in separate quadrants.
The artefact is about one ft in height and one ft in diameter, featuring two inbuilt handles—one of which was found broken, while the other remains intact.
