Work on archaeological, historical atlas of TN under way: Minister

Madurai: Preparation of the archaeological and historical atlas of Tamil Nadu is under way and is one of the projects of the archaeological department of Tamil Nadu, said minister of archaeology, Thangam Thennarasu, on Thursday.He inaugurated the three-day international symposium on ‘Recent Scientific Studies in the Archaeology of Tamil Nadu' in Madurai. He said that the department adopted a rigorous scientific approach that authenticated heritage. The symposium was organised to celebrate the rich archaeological heritage and advanced science that made the insights possible, he said. He said that other long-term projects included documentation of rock art in Tamil Nadu, a 25-year project on documentation of the cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu, and underwater archaeological expeditions. "Our focus is mainly on reconstructing the human past through scientific methods, establishing site museums, and collaborating with domestic and international laboratories for scientific interpretation of cultural materials," he said. He added that plans were in place for isotopic analysis in collaboration with Deccan College and the University of Georgia. Amarnath Ramakrishna spoke on the significance of the Keeladi excavation for the study of the Sangam period. He said that Keeladi was the only intact habitation site, as of today, available near Madurai, which had ample scope for large-scale scientific excavation. "It is likely to provide evidence to understand the cultural development of ancient Madurai," he said. It had the potential archaeological wealth to provide crucial evidence to understand the cultural transformation from the Iron Age to the early historical period, and further developments that took place in the Vaigai river valley, he said. Twenty expert speakers and nearly 200 students participated on the first day of the symposium. Three books, including one containing two volumes, were released by the minister. Archaeological evidence from excavations in Tamil Nadu was also exhibited at the venue.