Keezhadi - a Pathway into Vaigai River Civilization

Image: Thanks to Tamilnadu Archaelogical Department

 A sophisticated urban wonder which laid hidden with all its precious riches has been brought to light, thanks to the excavation conducted by Archaelogical Department of Tamilnadu. Keezhadi, also spelled Keeladi, a village in the outskirts of Madurai in the district of Sivagangai, TamilNadu, South India has captured all ears and eyes to itself. What good is that if I keep my jubilance to myself! The marvelous historic discovery has to be shared, not only for my pride as a Tamilian who has always been awed by the rich literature and the cultural traditions of my ancestors but also for the insights into human history itself.

Image: Thanks to Tamilnadu Archaelogical Department

The first phase of the Keezhadi excavation was done in the year 2014, the results of which clearly indicated that the glorious history of the Tamils would turn a new page. The project was promptly shunned by those in power, especially at the center, causing a huge uproar among the Tamils. Among many activists, Mr. Su. Venkatesan, prominent writer and current Member of the Parliament from Madurai did not miss a beat in spreading the historical facts and the need for further excavation. He said Tamils have a history going past ten thousand years which has its trails in the many stories and traditions of Tamilnadu. The voices of Tamils demanding further excavation became fruitful leading to second and third phases by the Archaeological Survey of India, and subsequently to fourth and fifth phases by the Tamilnadu Archaeological Department. The fifth phase is yet to be completed.




The fourth phase of the excavation is completed and the results are, I would say, to an extent as anticipated by the Tamils deeply rooted in Sangam literature. A total of 5820 artifacts were unearthed which exposed brick structures, roofs which show grooves pressed with fingers thoughtfully for the draining of rainwater, and terracotta ring wells to conserve water. Also unearthed are gold ornaments, copper pieces, terracotta pottery pieces, black and red clay objects, iron tools, precious gems like agate, terracotta earrings, bones of animals and birds, coins, game pieces to name a few.  The skeletal remains are found to be of oxen, buffalo, cows, goats, wild boar, blackbucks, and peacocks. While bulls, oxen, cows were supposed to be raised for agricultural purposes, the cut marks over the  remains of goats wild boars and antelopes suggest that those animals were consumed.

Image: Thanks to internet

 The pottery pieces have symbols and shapes which were made during the process of pottery making as well as after burning. The graffiti found in the pottery is believed to stand in between the Indus and the Brahmi scripts. T. Udhayachandran, Commissioner of TN Archeological Department, says, “It’s an initial finding. Researchers note there is a gap between the Indus script and Tamil Brahmi script and this graffiti could fill that gap. We have to position this graffiti marks in that gap. We found 1000 different marks. We have chosen a few that distinctly relate to the Indus. Research is going on."

Six samples from the excavation site at Keezhadi were tested in the world's largest radiocarbon testing and bio content testing laboratory, Beta Analytic, located in Miami, Florida. One of the samples which were collected at the depth of 353 cms is dated to 580BC. The excavation also reveals the high level of literacy which existed as early as the 6th century BC. The finding was based on potsherds which had names of people – like Aadhan and Kudhiranaadhan – written in Tamil-Brahmi script. This pushes the earlier accepted time period of Sangam Era as starting from the 3rd century BC to the 6th century BC.

Ancient Tamils have had Tamil academies to celebrate and enrich Tamil, popularly known as Tamil Sangam. The first and second Tamil Sangams ('muthal sangam' and 'idai sangam') were destroyed by natural phenonomena, and the last Sangam known as the 'kadai sangam' is believed to have been centered in Madurai. Most of the Sangam Literature books available evidenced with some history had made the date accepted to be as early as 3rd century BC. Now, this Third Sangam Age has been pushed three hundred years backward to the 6th century BC which is a joyful leap for the Tamilians. The excavation has only confirmed a few of the claims of Tamils discerned from the existing rich classical literature.

I am reminded of a poem (Maruthakali 67) in Kalithokai , one of the Eight Anthologies (Ettuthokai) of Sangam Literature. In the poem sung by Maruthan Ilanakanar, the heroine says that her lover is from a city, the walls of which were not threatened by enemies but by the brimming waters of the river Vaigai (also spelled Vaiyai). She says that the city was praised for its greatness by eminent poets. The Keezhadi excavation bringing to limelight the Vaigai river civilization makes me better visualize the poem and it does make more sense for me, who has always been thrilled and awed by the cultural richness of the ancient Tamils. Am sure this would make sense also to those who turn their attention to Keezhadi and Tamil, following Keezhadi findings.

Looking forward to the fifth phase and beyond when the glory of Tamil would resonate in each and every nook of the world. Vaazhga Tamil!