Earliest Ancient Site in Tamil Nadu to get On-Site Museum

The Archaeological Survey of India recognised Tuticorin district&rsquos Adhichanallur amongst the five archeological sites that will be developed with an on-site museum.

Adichanallur is a small remote village home to a three-tier cemetery which is spread over more than 200 acres and is one of the oldest Early Iron-Age cemeteries to exist in South Asia.

An excavation conducted by the ASI in 2004-2006 discovered 85 human skeletons in a squatting position in giant, dual-coloured clay urns. The filing of the report took quite a ti1me and was submitted in 2019 by ASI before the Madras high court&rsquos Madurai bench. The carbondating results of the sample of the urn proved Adichanallur to be the earliest ancient site in Tamil Nadu with urns aged between 696BC-540 BC (2,645-2,489 years) and 791BC-701 BC (2,740-2,650 years), while the other is from 905-806 BC (2,854-2,755 years).

An on-site museum of international standards would help in getting the site the recognition it deserves. The Trichy circle office was established in October on the court&rsquos direction to facilitate the museum. ASI is now creating awareness and promoting the sites with cultural notice boards to promote their significance.