Amarnath Ramakrishna, Director of the Archaeological Survey of India, delivering the keynote address at a seminar organised by the Kalam literary organisation in Tiruchi on Friday.
| Photo Credit: R. VENGADESH
The findings from Keeladi’s archaeological excavation have changed the focus of historical research from burial sites to community settlements, K. Amarnath Ramakrishna, director of the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities, Archaeological Survey of India, has said.
Delivering a lecture on “The antiquity of the Sangam-era Tamilian and archeological excavations” during a programme organised by Kalam literary organisation in Tiruchi on Saturday, Mr. Ramakrishna said the publication of his report on Keeladi had been hampered by hurdles, notably by a demand to revise the date by the Union Ministry of Culture.
“However, it is not possible to change the timeline of Keeladi’s ‘Vaigai civilisation’, because this is not a burial site. Carbon dating cannot be done on a living civilisation. Our findings indicate that Keeladi was home to a sophisticated civilisation. If we expand our exploration, we may discover more about the Tamil country’s rich past,” he said.
The archaeologist said that Tamil Nadu had great potential for research into its historical antecedents that could highlight its achievements. “Many archaeological scholars have stopped talking to the public due to several reasons. But for us in Tamil Nadu, archaeology is meant for the people, and its news should reach the people accurately,” he said.
Mr. Ramakrishna said the tendency to fictionalise history and link literary epics to actual events or sites was not conducive to creating an accurate social record. “Archaeology gives us historical evidence, and as Keeladi has shown, it elevates the profile of Tamil language and explains its historicity,” he said.
The archaeologist said that details mentioned in Sangam literature need to be documented and studied in greater depth. “At present, we are only focusing on extant literature and do not have anything to compare it with by way of archaeological evidence. Treating literary works blindly as historical evidence must be avoided,” he said.
He credited his colleagues on the Keeladi site for recording the findings in a systematic way. “The items found on the site show us the history of our ancestors and are a kind of silent witness to our growth as a civilisation,” he said.
Mr. Ramakrishna interacted with students regarding his work in Keeladi after his address.
Published – September 27, 2025 09:29 pm IST
