The Tiruchi Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has commenced an excavation at the habitation mounds in Kodumbalur, located in the Viralimalai taluk of Pudukottai district.
Kodumbalur, located around 40 km from Tiruchi, is home to several monuments maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Notable among them is the Moovar Temple, constructed by Bhuti Vikramakesari, the Irukkavel chieftain who is believed to have been a political ally of Parantaka II, also known as Sundara Chola (CE 956-973).
“Kodumbalur, mentioned in the Sangam literature Silappadikaram, is one of the 32 sites we have identified for excavation under the ASI’s ‘Looking Beyond – Vision Statement for Excavations by 2035’,” said A. Anilkumar, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Tiruchi Circle. He added that Kodumbalur is referred to as Kodumbai in the Silappadikaram.
“We received the license from the Central Advisory Board on Archaeology (CABA), and the excavation at the site officially began on January 3,” added Anilkumar, who will serve as the Excavation Director.
The excavation is being carried out in front of the Perumal temple and at Kottaikaraimedu in the village. Local residents and students have also been actively involved in the excavation process.
V. Muthukumar, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, will serve as the Co-director of the excavation. The team also includes S Ranimole, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, H Raghavendra, Draughtsman at the ASI Tiruchi Circle, and archaeology students.
The excavation aims to establish the cultural timeline and gather archaeological evidence to gain a comprehensive understanding of Kodumbalur’s history.
“We will re-examine the references to Kodumbalur in Sangam literature and attempt to correlate them with the current findings,” said Anilkumar.
Sitannavasal in the Pudukottai district and Pulimankombai in the Theni district are among the key sites selected for excavation by the ASI Circle. The excavations at these locations will be carried out in phases. Through these efforts, the ASI aims to reconstruct the historical narrative of Tamil Nadu, Anilkumar added.
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