2 months ago
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After a hold of galore months, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has yet granted support to the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) to behaviour excavations astatine 8 humanities sites successful the State, including the 11th signifier of excavations astatine Keeladi.
According to officials, the support has been fixed to behaviour excavations astatine Keeladi and its clusters successful Sivaganga district; Pattinamarudhur successful Thoothukudi district; Karivalamvanthanallur successful Tenkasi district; Manikollai successful Cuddalore district; Adichanur successful Villupuram district; Vellalore successful Coimbatore district; Telunganur-Mangadu successful Salem district; and Nagapattinam.
The support from the Exploration and Excavation Section of the ASI was granted connected March 13 nether the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959, pursuing the proposal of an adept committee.
In July 2025, the TNSDA had sought the ASI’s support to behaviour excavations astatine these sites, which were announced by Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu successful the State Budget for 2025-26. After delays, officials from the Tamil Nadu authorities had written to the ASI seeking approval, arsenic the excavation play successful Tamil Nadu runs lone from January to July.
Recently, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin besides urged the Centre to assistance support for the excavations successful Tamil Nadu astatine the earliest, noting that monsoon conditions would disrupt fieldwork during the 2nd fractional of the year.
Last year, the TNSDA had besides sought the ASI’s support to behaviour underwater archaeological explorations off the seashore of Poompuhar, the past larboard metropolis erstwhile known arsenic Kaveripoompattinam, successful Mayiladuthurai district. According to authoritative sources, the ASI granted support for the underwater survey successful September 2025. The TNSDA has since been conducting a bid of surveys disconnected the Poompuhar coast.
