Significance of Findings in Keeladi

What’s in today’s article?

• Background
• Sangam Period (300 BC – 200 AD)
• Sangam Literature
• Significance of Keeladi Village w.r.t. Sangam Period
• What has been Excavated so far?
• Keeladi Excavations & Indus Valley Civilization

 

Background

• For the first time, the Supreme Court has started using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology powered by Natural Language Processing to transcribe its proceedings.

Sangam Period (300 BC – 200 AD)

Image Caption: Sangam Period Map

• The Sangam Age constitutes an important chapter in the history of South India.
• According to Tamil legends, there existed three Sangams (Academy of Tamil poets) in ancient Tamil Nadu popularly called Muchchangam. These Sangams flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandyas.
• 1^st Sangam –
  • The first Sangam, held at then Madurai, was attended by gods and legendary sages but no literary work of this Sangam was available.
• 2^nd Sangam –
  • The second Sangam was held at Kapadapuram but the all the literary works had perished except Tolkappiyam.
• 3^rd Sangam –

o   The third Sangam at Madurai was founded by Mudathirumaran.

 

Sangam Literature

• The Sangam literature, historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones', connotes to the ancient Tamil literature and is the earliest known literature of South India.
• The Sangam literature includes Tolkappiyam, Ettutogai, Pattuppattu, Pathinenkilkanakku, and two epics named – Silappathikaram and Manimekalai.
• Tolkappiyam was authored by Tolkappiyar and is considered the earliest of Tamil literary work. 
  • It provides insights on the political and socio-economic conditions of the time.
• Ettutogai (Eight Anthologies) consist of eight works – Aingurunooru, Narrinai, Aganaooru, Purananooru, Kuruntogai, Kalittogai, Paripadal and Padirruppatu.
• The Pattuppattu (Ten Idylls) consists of ten works – Thirumurugarruppadai, Porunararruppadai, Sirupanarruppadai, Perumpanarruppadai, Mullaippattu, Nedunalvadai, Maduraikkanji, Kurinjippatttu, Pattinappalai and Malaipadukadam.
• Pathinenkilkanakku contains eighteen works about ethics and morals. The most important among these works is Tirukkural authored by Thiruvalluvar, the Tamil poet and philosopher.
• The two epics Silappathikaram is written by Elango Adigal and Manimekalai by Chithalai Chathanar.

o   They provide valuable details about the Sangam society and polity.

 

Significance of Keeladi Village w.r.t. Sangam Period

• On recommendation of the State Department of Archaeology, the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology (CABA) had permitted Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology  (TNSDA)to conduct excavations at Keeladi during 2017-2021.
• The analysis of carbon samples collected from the Keeladi Excavations pushed the Sangam date further.
• In 2019, a TNSDA report dated the unearthed artefacts from Keeladi to a period between sixth century BCE and first century BCE.
• This findings placed Keeladi artefacts about 300 years earlier than the previously believed third century BCE for Sangam Period.
• However, a recent ASI report by K. Amarnath Ramakrishna, the Superintendent Archaeologist who discovered Keeladi in 2015, has pushed the Sangam age to 800 BCE based on these archaeological findings.
• Keeladi could also provide crucial evidence for understanding the missing links of the Iron Age (12th century BCE to sixth century BCE) to the Early Historic Period (sixth century BCE to fourth century BCE) and subsequent cultural developments.

 

What has been Excavated so far?

• In the eight rounds of excavations, including the first three by the ASI, over 18,000 artefacts have been unearthed from the site.
• Unearthing of heaps of pottery suggest the existence of a pottery making industry, mostly made of locally available raw materials.
  • Over 120 potsherds containing Tamil Brahmi inscriptions have been found.
• Keeladi, along with other Tamil Nadu sites which have over a thousand inscribed potsherds, clearly suggest the long survival of the script.
• Spindle whorls, copper needles, terracotta seal, hanging stones of the yarn, terracotta spheres and earthen vessels to hold liquid suggest various stages of a weaving industry.
• There also existed a dyeing industry and a glass bead industry.
• Gold ornaments, copper articles, semi-precious stones, shell bangles, ivory bangles and ivory combs reflect the artistic, culturally rich and prosperous lifestyle of the Keeladi people.
• Agate and carnelian beads suggest import through commercial networks while terracotta and ivory dice, gamesmen and evidence of hopscotch have been unearthed revealing their pastime hobbies.

 

Keeladi Excavations & Indus Valley Civilization

• The findings have also invited comparisons with the Indus Valley Civilisation while acknowledging the cultural gap of 1,000 years between the two places.
• Some of the symbols found in pot sherds of Keeladi bear a close resemblance to Indus Valley signs.
  • A lot of digging and study has to be done to establish the links between these two civilisations.
• TNSDA affirms that Keeladi has all the characteristics of an urban civilisation, with brick structures, luxury items and proof of internal and external trade.
• It comes across as an industrious and advanced civilisation and has given evidence of urban life and settlements in Tamil Nadu during the Early Historic Period.

 

 

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Q1) Who is the founder of Chola Dynasty?

The founder of the Chola Empire was Vijayalaya, who was first feudatory of the Pallavas of Kanchi. He captured Tanjore in 850 A.D. He established a temple of goddess Nishumbhasudini (Durga) there. Aditya I succeeded Vijayalaya.

 

Q2) Who is the founder of Pallava Dynasty?

The founder of Pallava dynasty is Simha Vishnu who is said to be a very efficient and strong conqueror and ruler. After the death of Simha Vishnu, Mahendravarman, his son succeeded him and ruled from about 571 till 630 CE.

 

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Source: Explained | The significance of the findings in Keeladi | The Hindu