Excavations at Tamil Nadu's Kodumanal village unearth more ancient objects

A four-member team, led by P.S. Sriraman, Superintending Archaeologist, Archeological Survey of India, Excavation Branch – VI, Bengaluru, along with five archeological students began the excavation on January 8 at the location where valuable artefacts were unearthed during the previous excavations carried out in 1981.

Work under way at the excavation site at Kodumanal village in Chennimalai Union in Erode
[Credit: The Hindu]

Over 100 artefacts, including carnelian beads, copper pin, gold objects, iron spear heads, quartz beads and shell beads, were collected by the team.

“The place served as a craft production centre and these objects could date back to 4th century B.C to 3rd century A.D”, said Mr. Sriraman. He said that potsherd carrying names of person or place is normal, whereas, for the first time, potsherd inscribed with the first four alphabet of Brahmi script is found here.

Gold objects found at the excavation site at Kodumanal village in Erode [Credit: The Hindu]

A terracotta seal with Sanskrit word “lavasa” inscribed on it was also found at the site. The seal could have been left by a trader from North India, he added.

An iron or steel drill bit possibly used by a carpenter was also unearthed. Also, a copper pin, the floor for the centre on which beads were made, burials that date back to megalithic period were also found. He said the excavations were temporarily stopped due to rain, but will resume in June.

In the previous excavations at the village, located along the banks of River Noyal in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, megalithic burials, menhirs, swords, Roman silver coins, quartz and precious stones were unearthed.

Source: The Hindu [May 12, 2018]