ASI Approves Site Excavations in Tamil Nadu

• 20 Mar 2026

Source: IE 

The Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI), under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959, approved excavations at 8 key sites in Tamil Nadu.  

• Significance: These 8 sites collectively represent Tamil Nadu's history from the Iron Age to urban settlements like Keeladi, potentially bridging the gap between ancient South Indian urbanization and global trade networks. 

Key Sites and Their Significance 

Key Sites	Significance
Keeladi	Urban settlement in the Vaigai basin; evidence of Tamil-Brahmi script and advanced drainage systems.
Adichanallur and Karivalamvanthanallur	Pre-eminent burial site providing insights into early mortuary practices and Iron Age material culture.
Vellalore	Evidence of commercial exchange with the Roman Empire, including jewelry and coinage.
Thelunganur	Signifies early technological advancement in iron usage, potentially dating back several millennia.
Nagapattinam and Pattinamarudur	Historical Chola-era port reflecting Buddhist influence and Indian Ocean trade networks.
Manikollai	Production center for glass beads tied to long-distance Southeast Asian trade.

• Tamil Nadu's Commitment: The Tamil Nadu government has allocated Rs 7 crore in its 2025-26 budget for archaeological work, including advanced scientific methods like DNA testing and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. 
• Dating of Sites:  
  • DNA testing (genetic testing or DNA profiling) is a scientific process used to identify changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins to determine biological relationships, and ancestral origins.  
    • In archaeology, it is used to analyze Ancient DNA (aDNA) extracted from skeletal remains to trace the migration and lineage of ancient civilizations. 
  • OSL Dating: OSL is a sophisticated geochronological dating technique that determines the last time mineral grains (like quartz or feldspar) were exposed to sunlight.  
    • In archaeology, it is particularly useful for dating the soil layers in which artifacts are found, especially when organic material for radiocarbon dating is unavailable.

Read More: Tamil Literature: Sangam Period