Archaeology

ARCHAEOLOGY

1. Archaeology - Definition

Archaeology is the study and interpretation of human history through its physical remains and material and culture. Houses, cities, food, clothing and even human remains are carefully studied to learn more about the past humans. Alexander Cunningham is hailed as the Father of Indian Archaeology.

Excavation

The most important activity in archaeology is excavation. During excavation, the earth is dug and the artefacts found there are collected and examined. At the end of the study, the findings are recorded.

2. Purpose of Archaeology

Earlier, archaeology was considered only as a task of listing out the artefacts. But, its real purpose was

1. Documenting and explaining the origin and development of prehistoric and historic human culture.

2. Understanding cultural history.

3. Sequencing the cultural process of development period.

4. The study of human behaviour.

5. Similar objects have been found in other areas and through them they can predict the lifestyle of the people who used them and determine the period.

3. Archaeological Evidences

Archaeology or archaeological evidences are the physical remains and artefacts left behind by the people who lived in the past. It is the main way of studying people who lived before humans started keeping written records. It also helps to provide more illuminating information on periods for which historical records exist.

Major Archaeological Evidences

1. Puhar (Poombuhar) (Kaveripattinam)

It was a major port city of the early Chola Kingdom, at the estuary of Cauvery river. It was destroyed hundreds of years ago by the raging sea. Today, after several rounds of painstaking excavations, the history of this 2000 year ancient commercial town of Poombuhar port is being resurrected.

In 1910, archaeologists discovered the remains of the port and rediscovered the old port. Later, other harbours made of burnt breaks, with a platform supported by wooden posts to handle the flow of water and cargo were found out.

Subsequent excavations in 1971-74 yielded square copper coins with the tiger symbol, semi precious stones and fragments of a Roman pottery amphora.

An underwater excavation in 1981 uncovered stone structures representing an ancient harbour and temples. It was confirmed as the ancient Puhar City.

2. Adhichanallur

Adhichanallur is situated on the bank of the river Thamiraparani in Thiruvaikundam circle of Thoothukudi district.

Alexandria was the major excavator of this archaeological site in 1903-1904. He found and displayed more than 4000 items. This includes many burial urns.

Then after 100 years in 2004-2005, under the leadership of Mr. Sathiyamurthy four phase survey was conducted. In that, bronze and iron objects were excavated. Two objects found in this were subjected to find out the period at the archaeological laboratory in America. One object was dated to 905 BC and the other one was as 791 BC.

3. Kodumanal

Kodumanal is located on the north bank of the Noyyal river in Perundurai circle, Erode district. It is considered to be the most important worldwide excavation ever undertaken.

Excavations were carried out at two types of sites, the people who lived in the Kodumanal area and the burial ditch (Eemakuzhi). Archaeologists consider them to be the people of great culture because of their use of large slabs and long stones.

In this excavation, many items such as iron tools like knife, sword, spear, shield, bells, horse's extra fittings, gold, silver, lead bangles, sports items, human bones in burial diches and animal skeletons have been found in the excavation.

A brick building and three burial urns have been found in the ongoing excavation. Here alone, more than 1000 engravings have been found on the clay chips.

4. Arikamedu

Arikamedu is in Kakayan thopu, Ariyangkuppam in Puducherry Street. In 1945, archaeological excavations by Sir Mortimer Willer and June-Marie identified Arikamedu as a great port site. Roman lamps, glassware and stoneware have been excavated here. Arikkamedu is a Greek trading centre. It is certain that it traded with Rome.

Further excavations revealed the presence of dye tanks.

Pink amphora jars used to store oil and jars with two handles and a yellow slip for keeping wine are found in all layers of the excavation. A brick structure with a lime coating system is found with a split wall. It is a 45 m oblong shape structure.

5. Keezhadi

Keezhadi village is in Thirupuvanam circle of Sivagangai district. It is located on the south bank of the Vaigai river. Keezhadi is the major excavation in Tamilnadu. More than 40 pits have been dug here.

Pearl beads, women's head pins, dices, chess coins, flint toys, chips, takli, etc., are found here.

Houses built of baked bricks, flint wells, bathrooms are found here.

13 letter pot tiles, black and red pottery tiles with 1 to 13 letters written on them are found.

Gold ornaments, ivory ornaments, iron implements and toys in human and animal forms are also present.

4. Uses of Archaeological Surveys

1. To know the history of our people who lived before the Sangam period (stone age) where there is reason no written evidence. Archaeology is used to dig up the places where the ancient people lived and to find the ibnikond artefacts they used to know about their lifestyle.

2. The Indus Valley Civilization came to be known to the world through archaeology (excavation).

3. Ancient peoples way of burning the dead, the way they erected Hero stones and the way they worshipped them can be known through archaeology.

4. Stone age man gave up pastrolism. They shifted to agriculture. They made pottery to store grains. All these can be known through archaeology.

5. Home appliances, war implements, usage of metals such as copper, iron, steel, etc., were understood through archaeology. We also learn about their hunting tools.

6. From the coins found in archaeological research, it is possible to know how ancient Tamils had trade relations with the foreign countries, especially with Rome.