New Proof Pushes Back Date of Human Settlements in Thanjai
By N Ramesh
Published: 16th November 2015 05:57 AM
- Artefacts, quartz, scrappers and chert stones that were found during excavation at Tamil University campus in Pillayarpatti | EXPRESS
THANJAVUR:Recent archaeological excavation undertaken at the Tamil University campus in Pillayarpatti has pushed back the history of human settlements in the area to around 8,000 BC, that is around 10,000 years from now.
A team of archaeologists and students of the Department of Epigraphy And Archaeology, Tamil University carried out excavation work in the University campus at Pillayarpatti from June 2015, with the permission from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and completed the work recently.
The site, measuring 5X5 square metre dug up to one metre, yielded valuable evidences to study the history of human settlements in the area. The laterite soil in the area contained quartz and chert stones. Artefacts made from these stones were also found.
“During the excavation, we found pointed tools such as arrows and scrappers used for scrapping fat from animals or the bark of trees, flakes, borers made of stones” V Selvakumar, Assistant Professor told Express. He pointed out that fossils of trees, probably of banana, were also found in the area.
Further, he claimed that since Pillayarpatti is at a higher altitude compared to Cauvery delta, the people in the delta plains might have seasonally migrated to Pillayarpatti during floods.
Similar migration might have occurred to nearby areas like Manojippatti, Tirukkanoorpatti and Punalkulam, Selvakumar pointed out the existence of an ancient stream near the excavation site and also an ancient rain water harvesting well nearby. “It is significant iron age tools, microlithic tools and tools from the end of paleolithic age were found in subsequent layers, ”he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment