Thirumalapuram Excavation: Iron Age Urn Burials in Tenkasi
Why in the news
A dig in southern Tamil Nadu widened the known spread of Iron Age settlement towards the Western Ghats.
Key facts
- TNSDA dug 37 trenches across a 35-acre burial site in the first season.
- Site lies about 10 km northwest of the village, by seasonal streams near Kulasegarapereri tank.
- Chamber: 35 stone slabs, packed with cobblestones to 1.5 metres depth.
Finds
- Grave pottery: white-painted black-and-red ware, red ware, red-slipped, black-polished and coarse red ware.
- Painted designs resemble those at T. Kallupatti, Adichanallur, Sivagalai, Thulukkarpatti and Korkai.
- Marks on urns hint at linguistic or cultural symbolism.
Exam angle
- Site: Thirumalapuram, Tenkasi; agency TNSDA.