Context:
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has directed archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, former lead of the Keezhadi excavations, to rewrite and resubmit his excavation report citing concerns over authenticity, stratigraphic consistency, and scientific terminology.
- Keezhadi, located near Madurai along the Vaigai River (Tamil Nadu), is considered one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in recent Indian history, with evidence pointing to a Tamil urban civilisation dating to around 200 BCE or earlier.
- The original report was submitted on January 30, 2023, though it remained unprocessed for years following the archaeologist’s transfer in 2017.
Key Highlights:
About the Keezhadi Excavation:
- Unearthed evidence of a well-planned urban settlement, including:
- Brick structures
- Industrial artefacts
- Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions
- Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) carbon dating placed the settlement around 200 BCE, with recent assessments suggesting pre-300 BCE habitation.
- Findings challenged earlier assumptions that the Sangam Age lacked urban characteristics.
ASI’s Concerns and Directives:
- ASI flagged:
- Inconsistencies in stratigraphic interpretation
- Improper use of scientific nomenclature
- Need for reassessment of periodisation, particularly between 8th century BCE and 5th century BCE
- Directed that all chronological attributions must strictly align with:
- AMS dating results
- Stratigraphic context
Political and Academic Reactions:
- Historian and former IAS officer R. Balakrishnan termed the directive “unprecedented”.
- Raised concerns about:
- Suppression of archaeological findings
- Bureaucratic hesitation and political influence in interpreting history
- Sparked debate on academic autonomy vs government oversight.
Key Archaeological Concepts Involved:
- Stratigraphy: Layer-wise study of deposits to establish a chronological sequence.
- AMS Dating: Advanced carbon-dating technique offering high precision for ancient organic remains.
- Cultural Periodisation: Classification of history into phases based on material culture and social indicators.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Dispute over interpretation and presentation of Keezhadi excavation findings.
- Causes:
- Discrepancies between field interpretations and scientific dating
- Institutional insistence on methodological uniformity
- Government Initiative:
- ASI’s mandate to ensure scientific rigour and standardisation in archaeological documentation.
- Benefits:
- Reinforces scientific credibility of archaeological records.
- Prevents methodological errors in historical reconstruction.
- Challenges:
- Perceived curtailment of academic freedom
- Risk of politicisation of archaeology
- Impact:
- Influences understanding of early urbanisation in South India
- Affects narratives related to Sangam Age and Dravidian civilisation
Relevant Mains Points:
- Facts & Provisions:
- ASI functions under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
- Keezhadi excavation highlights urban continuity in Tamil region before Mauryan period.
- Keywords & Concepts:
- Urbanisation, Sangam Age, Tamil-Brahmi, Stratigraphy, AMS Dating
- Static & Conceptual Linkages:
- Challenges the Aryan–Dravidian dichotomy by indicating autonomous urban development in South India.
- Raises questions on objectivity in historical interpretation.
- Way Forward:
- Ensure transparent peer review mechanisms for archaeological reports.
- Balance scientific oversight with academic independence.
- Promote collaboration between field archaeologists, historians, and scientific experts.
- Insulate archaeological research from political and ideological pressures to preserve historical integrity.