As many as 33 stone grooves in and around Kilnamandi hinted at the possibility of polished stone axe manufacturing. S Balamurugan, a government officer, had alerted them after preliminary studies. The excavation will also look for clues linking the Stone Age and the Iron Age.Ī day before, under a thatched roof built to escape the heat, I asked Gnanaraj why they chose Kilnamandi for archaeological excavations. A distinct feature of the period was massive stone burial sites or commemorative memorials, believed to be the earliest surviving man-made structures. In reality, archaeologists were here to collect more evidence of the Megalithic Period (2500 BC to AD 200) in Tamil Nadu. “Someone has buried a treasure,” he said, smiling. I asked Poongavanam, one of the labourers, if he knew why they were digging. There was no movement of vehicles or villagers.

The site was far away from any human settlement. I was pleased.įourteen labourers - four men and 10 women - were accompanying us to dig a 55-acre land parcel owned by the state government. I unearthed some material only to be told it was a root! It took me 10 minutes to scrape an offering pot without any damage. “Keep wiping your sweat,” Suresh reminded me as beads of perspiration landed on my legs. I alternated between a small knife and a small pickaxe. At 41☌, it was searingly hot.Īlso Read | Village bin man helped unearth ancient bronze statues in Italy's Tuscany I joined Gnanaraj, director of excavations Suresh, excavation in-charge and research scholars, Rajasekar and John Juvan, for two days in mid-May. It is the latest site of interest on the state’s growing archaeological map. Excavations at Kilnamandi began on April 6. The burial trench was located in Kilnamandi, a nondescript village in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district.

You shouldn’t damage the offering pots or other artefacts,” Suresh instructed me. “Turn the axe to the right and start scraping. Victor Gnanaraj, seated next to me, handed me a small pickaxe. Drink a bottle of water before you begin,” Suresh cautioned me.

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