Earliest Ancient Site in Tamil Nadu to get On-Site Museum

The Archaeological Survey of India recognised Tuticorin district’s Adhichanallur amongst the five archeological sites that will be developed with an on-site museum.

Adichanallur is a small remote village home to a three-tier cemetery which is spread over more than 200 acres and is one of the oldest Early Iron-Age cemeteries to exist in South Asia.

 

 

 

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An excavation conducted by the ASI in 2004-2006 discovered 85 human skeletons in a squatting position in giant, dual-coloured clay urns. The filing of the report took quite a ti1me and was submitted in 2019 by ASI before the Madras high court’s Madurai bench. The carbondating results of the sample of the urn proved Adichanallur to be the earliest ancient site in Tamil Nadu with urns aged between 696BC-540 BC (2,645-2,489 years) and 791BC-701 BC (2,740-2,650 years), while the other is from 905-806 BC (2,854-2,755 years).

An on-site museum of international standards would help in getting the site the recognition it deserves. The Trichy circle office was established in October on the court’s direction to facilitate the museum. ASI is now creating awareness and promoting the sites with cultural notice boards to promote their significance.