The Keeladi village in Tamil Nadu, India, has become a focal point of archaeological and historical significance, sparking intense debate and discussion about the region’s past. Located on the banks of the Vaigai River, approximately 12 kilometers southeast of Madurai, the site has yielded over 15,000 artifacts from just four of the 100 marked acres since excavations began in 2014. These findings have been instrumental in reshaping existing narratives about early civilization in the Indian subcontinent.
Ajay Kumar, leading the state archaeology team at Keeladi, highlights the significance of the discoveries, stating, “This was a literate, urban society where people had separate spaces for habitation, burial practices, and industrial work.” This urban settlement, dated to around 2,500 years ago, is considered the first large, well-defined ancient urban settlement found in southern India. The excavation site reveals elaborate brick structures and water systems, indicative of advanced engineering skills and urban planning.
The findings at Keeladi have sparked excitement across Tamil Nadu and beyond, with many viewing them as a source of pride for the region’s heritage. William Daniel, a teacher from neighboring Kerala, expresses his sentiments, “It gives people from the south [of India] something to feel proud about, that our civilization is just as ancient and important as the one in the north [of India].”
However, the site has also become embroiled in politics, reflecting a deep-rooted north-south divide in India. The controversy centers around the narrative of urbanization in ancient India, with some arguing that it was primarily a northern phenomenon.
Archaeologists from the Tamil Nadu state department claim that the excavations at Keeladi challenge this narrative, with findings suggesting that the Tamil Brahmi script may be older than the Ashokan Brahmi script. “We have found graffiti in the Tamil Brahmi script dating back to the 6th Century BCE, which shows that it is older than the Ashokan Brahmi script. We believe that both scripts developed independently and, perhaps, emerged from the Indus Valley script,” Mr. Kumar notes.³
Some experts propose that there may be a connection between the Keeladi and Indus Valley civilizations, given the similarities in graffiti found on artifacts from both sites. However, others argue that more research is needed to conclusively prove this link. Ajit Kumar, a professor of archaeology at Nalanda University in Bihar, believes that the finds in Keeladi can be likened to a small settlement and questions the possibility of large-scale migration from the Indus Valley to the south.
The Keeladi site has also become a point of contention between the Tamil Nadu government and the federal government, with accusations of deliberate attempts to hinder the excavations and suppress information to erase Tamilian history. India’s Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has clarified that the report on the Keeladi excavations is under review and not rejected, with expert feedback yet to be finalized.
Despite the controversy, the Keeladi excavations have shed new light on the history and culture of ancient Tamil Nadu, providing valuable insights into the lives of people who lived in the region over 2,000 years ago.
As journalist Sowmiya Ashok, author of an upcoming book on Keeladi, remarks, “Uncovering history is a journey to better understand our shared past. Through small clues – like carnelian beads from the northwest or Roman copper coins – Keeladi reveals that our ancestors were far more connected than we realize.” The discoveries at Keeladi have the potential to redefine the narrative of Indian civilization, highlighting the significance of the region’s cultural heritage.