Keezhadi Pallai Sandhaipudur, a small village in Sivaganga has found a page in the history books. The Archaeological Survey of India believes that the village, now an excavation site, was once a settlement dating back to 2500 years ago, to the Pandya era. Around 3000 ancient artefacts have been found during the excavation. The News Minute takes you to the ancient site in 10 fascinating images.
1: A team of ASI experts has been carrying out the excavation in phases since February 2015. The second phase of the project started this January.
2: The most exciting discovery till date is that the village may have once been a settlement like Harappa and Mohenjo Daro.
3: ASI experts say Keezhadi village bears signs of being an ancient urban civilisation on the banks of Vaigai.
4: ASI has also unearthed a drainage system, similar to the Harappan civilisation site.
5: ASI also believes that the ancient settlement had trade links with countries like Rome after unearthing beads of agate, carnelian and quartz, reports The Hindu.
6: Tamil-Brahmi inscribed pots with “typical Sangam Age Tamil names” such as Thisan, Aadhan and Udhiran have been found.
7: The treasure trove includes semi-precious stones such as chalcedony, agate, milky quartz, crystal ear lobe and pearl beads, reports The New Indian Express
8: The antiquities include iron implements, ivory dice, signets and pottery.
9: Archaeologists told TOI that there are 53 excavation trenches spread across 3.5km circumference in 80 acres of private agricultural land.
10: The excavation at Keezhadi continues until September this year. The site is open to the public.