Chennai: In a sharp rebuke to critics, particularly the opposition parties in TN, crying foul over the ASI’s (Archaeological Survey of India) excavation of the ancient site at Keezhadi (about 12 km south east of Madurai), Ma Foi K. Pandiarajan, State Tamil, Arts & Culture Minister, announced that the State Archaeology department will take up the fourth phase of excavation at this ancient site and establish the exact date of the Tamil civilisation that had existed there.
Refuting the opposition charge that the ASI (under the control of the Central government) attempted to conceal evidence of the urban civilisation had had existed at Keezhadi, Mr Pandiarajan said there was no need for the ASI, which had taken up similar excavations in the past in TN, to undermine Tamil culture.
“We want to take up the fourth phase excavation through our Archaeology department soon. Probably, the work could commence from this November and we will establish its antique value,” he said on Monday evening.
He also said that a site museum would be established at Keezhadi. Speaking to reporters here, the Minister said the state sought and obtained permission from the Centre to take up the fourth phase work for the 2017-18 fiscal. It would be carried out under director R. Sivanantham and co-director J. Baskar.
Based on the recommendation of the standing committee of the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology, the Centre had approved the TN Archaeology’s excavation (phase 4) under rule 25 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959.
He said over 4,125 relics unearthed during the three excavations by ASI are safe and they could find place in the Egmore Museum which has vast space and galleries to display.
“Every single artefact would be displayed. Nothing will be missed. Fossil evidence obtained at Keezhadi has been sent for carbon dating”, Mr. Pandiarajan said. He also informed that reports on the second and third phase excavations were yet to be received. Government has acquired 2 acres land to take up excavation.
