Heritage

Uncovering Keeladi: How This Ancient Tamil Site Could Redefine The Narrative Of Indian Civilisation

Archaeological evidence from Tamil Nadu's Keeladi site suggests an advanced urban civilisation may have thrived along the Vaigai river as early as 600 BCE—or even earlier—challenging established timelines and rewriting India’s history

An aerial view of the excavated site at Keeladi Photo: Official website: Keeladi Museum
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You know, the history of archaeology in Tamil Nadu can be called as before and after Keeladi,” says Ajay Kumar, Archaeological Officer at the site—an assertion that reflects the monumental impact of Keeladi's discoveries. Tucked away in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district, Keeladi has rapidly emerged as a crucial site reshaping the narrative of ancient Indian civilisation. Archaeological evidence from the site suggests that an advanced urban society existed along the Vaigai river as early as 600 BCE, or perhaps even earlier, effectively challenging long-held assumptions about the timeline and complexity of Tamil culture.

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