Excavation Requested in Tirupattur District to Uncover Ancient Traces
Image credit: Prabu
Tirupattur district in Tamil Nadu, India, is known for its rich history and cultural heritage. Recently, it has been requested that an excavation be conducted on behalf of the government in Gundu Rettiur and its surrounding areas to uncover ancient artifacts and traces of the past.
Tirupattur district has a long and fascinating history. It is believed that the name Tirupattur is derived from the fact that there are 10 shrines located in eight directions from Adiyur to Kodiyur. Over the years, various kings have ruled Tirupattur, and the district has been known by different names such as Brahmapuram, Thiruperur, and Thiruvanapuram.
One significant figure in the district’s history is Nannan Sei Nannan, a king who ruled the two hills, Javvadu Hill and Elagiri Hill, during the Sangam period. These hills are home to scenic waterfalls, streams, and forests. The rivers Seyyar, Araniyar, Kamandala River, Nagandi River, and Mrikanda River originate from Javvadu Hill.
Tirupattur is also known as the Sandalwood City due to its proximity to Javvadu Hill, which is known for its sandalwood production and a large sandalwood warehouse. The area adjacent to Javvadu Hill was the best sandalwood-growing land, leading to the establishment of Asia’s second-largest sandalwood warehouse in Tirupattur.
According to Prabhu, an assistant professor of the Department of Tamil Studies, Tirupattur district, with its unique geological structure, holds numerous traces from the Palaeolithic to Neolithic, and from the Pallavas, Cholas, Gangars, to Nayaks period.
In the past 10 years, Prabhu and his team have found more than 90 historical artifacts and evidence. Among their discoveries are pottery shells, ancient tiles, flint blowers, black and red wares, red slippedwares spouts, iron ores, beads, neolithic tools, bone fragments, and large baked bricks.
They have also discovered caves with Tamil Brahmi script carved into the walls. These caves provide a suitable environment for human habitation, and nearby is a water body called “Ekileri,” attracting wildlife from the Elagiri hills.
Furthermore, Prabhu’s team has discovered evidence of iron smelting in the Pudhar Mandiya upland near Ikkukai, with seven flint blast furnaces and concentrated iron ore around Ammatin. They have also found stone circles and inscriptions at Sengunram, similar to those in Kundu Retitur, which could potentially form another archaeological site.
However, despite Prabhu’s discoveries and requests for excavation, the government has not yet taken any action. Prabhu has submitted petitions to the Minister of Archaeology and the Principal Secretary & Commissioner, but no response has been received.
In response to inquiries regarding the excavation request, Sivanandam, the Joint Director of Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department, stated that they have not received any formal request. However, he assured that if a petition is submitted, it will be taken into consideration. The respective district officers will be sent to inspect the site and submit a report, based on which further action can be taken.
The potential excavation in Gundu Rettiur and its surrounding areas has the potential to uncover more about Tirupattur’s rich history and provide valuable insights into the region’s ancient civilization.
Note: The images used in this article are credited to Prabu.