Stone Age Tools and Sangam Workshops Excavated in Tamil Nadu
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Why in News
- Archaeologists recently uncovered an ancient settlement at Malayadipatti near Karivalamvanthanallur in Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu.
- This human settlement survived and transformed over thousands of years along the banks of the Vaippar River.
About the Excavation
- The Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology opened 18 trenches at Malayadipatti starting in April 2026.
- This project forms part of the state's broader archaeological program, which also covers the famous Keeladi site.
Cultural Sequence
- Excavations revealed unbroken human occupation from the Microlithic period through the Iron Age into the Early Historic and Historic periods.
- Researchers noted that this long occupation occurred without distinct or clearly defined Neolithic or Chalcolithic phases.
Major Discoveries
- Fieldwork yielded microlithic stone tools, iron implements, hematite, glass beads, and coral beads.
- Archaeologists also recovered shell bangles, terracotta figurines, spindle whorls, gaming pieces, copper coins, graffiti-marked pottery, and black-and-red ware.
Structural Evidence
- Excavators uncovered a large brick structure measuring 8.7 metres by 4.2 metres with descending steps.
- Experts believe this structure served as an underground granary or rainwater-harvesting tank, demonstrating advanced water engineering.
Burial Evidence
- The team discovered a red-slipped burial pot featuring painted peacocks, containing human teeth and a black-and-red ware vessel.
- This ritual burial discovery links ancient traditions directly with references to peacocks in classical Sangam literature.
Craft and Trade Centre
- Traces of iron working, bead making, shell bangle crafts, and weaving prove that Malayadipatti was an organized production hub.
- This thriving center connected directly to maritime and inland trade routes across Tamil Nadu's eastern and western coasts.
Significance
- These finds reinforce evidence of Tamil Nadu's ancient history, technical mastery, and early economic power.
- Upcoming scientific dating will clarify how the community transitioned step by step from the Stone Age into the Sangam period.