Archaeological exploration along Pambai river in Villupuram yields Iron Age cultural materials

Surface-level tract investigations by archaeologists from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) on the banks of the Pambai stream successful Villupuram district, person yielded important finds specified arsenic Iron Age urn burials, potsherds, solid beads, ringing wells and ceramics, indicating the imaginable for full-scale excavations successful the region.

The Pambai river, astir 80 km long, is simply a tributary of the Varahanadhi river, besides locally known arsenic Sankarabarani. It originates astatine Kandachipuram Lake and Otteri and flows done Villupuram territory and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

A squad of archaeological experts including V.P. Yathees Kumar, Deputy Director; P.G. Loganathan, Assistant Director; and K. Suresh and Bharath Kumar, Archaeological Officers of the TNSDA, carried retired the survey on the banks of River Pamba, pursuing the announcement by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin successful January 2025 that archaeological probe would beryllium taken up successful these areas.

Surface explorations were conducted successful villages including B. Karimedu, Sengadu, Kurumbankottai, Poyyapakkam, V. Pudhur, Thiruvamathur, Ayyankovilpattu, Orathur, Ayyur Agaram, Thennamadevi, Ilangadu, V. Mathur, Kandachipuram and Sengamedu.

According to R. Sivanantham, Joint Director, TNSDA, archaeological remains were identified astatine some habitation mounds and burial sites during the survey. At B. Karaimedu, a habitation mound locally known arsenic Ayyanar Medu yielded ceramic assemblages including black-and-red Ware, achromatic slipped ware, reddish ware, reddish slipped ware and white-painted reddish ware, on with fragments of retention jars, lids and spouts. Fragmentary bony remains and 3 potsherds bearing graffiti marks were besides recovered.

At Sengadu, wherever cultivation activities person altered parts of the mound, the squad documented 4 urn burials, scattered potsherds, a breached polished chromatic axe, and ceramics. Materials belonging to the Early Historic Period including reddish ware, reddish slipped ware, were recovered astatine the Kurumbankottai archaeological mound which was excavated by a backstage assemblage successful 2015–16.

At Poyyapakkam, wherever ceramic kilns run nearby, retention jars and ringing wells were exposed successful excavated sections of the mound. Pottery fragments, bricks, lids and ringing stands were besides collected. Explorations astatine the V. Pudhur mound, locally known arsenic Nathamedu, yielded Red Ware, Black-and-Red Ware, Red Slipped Ware and a breached terracotta seal.

The Ayyankovilpattu tract yielded potsherds including Black-and-Red Ware, Red Ware, Red Slipped Ware and Black Slipped Ware, on with decorated pottery. Glass beads, bricks and graffiti-marked sherds were besides recovered.

Mr. Sivanantham said the preliminary findings suggest the taste materials beryllium to the Iron Age, Early Historic and Historic periods. A full-scale excavation on the Pambai stream could shed much airy connected past habitation and burial practices successful the region.