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Archaeological sites of Tamil Nadu: Keezhadi, Adichanallur, Arikamedu and more
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The archaeological sites TNPSC asks about most are Keezhadi (Sivaganga district), Adichanallur (Thoothukudi), Arikamedu (Puducherry), Kodumanal (Erode), Attirampakkam (Tiruvallur) and Sivakalai (Thoothukudi). The table below gives the location, what was found and the period for each, and the notes that follow cover the ones most often turned into questions.
Sites at a glance
| Site | District | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Attirampakkam | Tiruvallur | Palaeolithic and Middle Palaeolithic tools in the Kortallaiyar river basin; a 2018 study put the Middle Palaeolithic phase at about 385,000 years ago |
| Pallavaram | Chennai region | Robert Bruce Foote found stone tools here in 1863, regarded as the first Palaeolithic find in India |
| Adichanallur | Thoothukudi | Urn burials on the Thamirabarani; Iron Age and urn-burial culture; a site museum has been planned |
| Sivakalai | Thoothukudi | Burial site on the Thamirabarani excavated by the State Department of Archaeology |
| Keezhadi | Sivaganga | Sangam-age urban settlement on the Vaigai with brick structures and Tamil-Brahmi potsherds |
| Kodumanal | Erode | Sangam-age industrial site: beads, beryl and iron working; megalithic burials |
| Korkai | Thoothukudi | Ancient Pandya port and pearl-fishery centre |
| Alagankulam | Ramanathapuram | Port town at the mouth of the Vaigai with evidence of Indo-Roman trade |
| Poompuhar (Kaveripattinam) | Mayiladuthurai | Chola port-city of the Silappathikaram; underwater archaeology off the coast |
| Arikamedu | Puducherry (near Ariyankuppam) | Indo-Roman trading station; Roman pottery and amphorae |
| Uttaramerur | Chengalpattu | Chola inscriptions on village assemblies |
| Mangulam | Madurai | Early Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, 2nd century BCE |
Keezhadi
Keezhadi (spelled Keeladi in some sources) lies on the Vaigai river near Madurai. The Archaeological Survey of India dug it in several seasons from 2015, and since 2018 the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology has led the work. Finds include brick walls, drains, hearths, beads, pottery with Tamil-Brahmi letters and a large number of graffiti marks. The State department reports radiocarbon dates reaching back to about the 6th century BCE. These dates and the way the ASI handled the report have been discussed in public, so in exams use the safe wording "an urban settlement of the Sangam age". A site museum has been built for the finds. Keezhadi is often linked with the Madurai capital of the Pandyas (see ancient dynasties of Tamil Nadu).
Adichanallur and Sivakalai
Both lie along the Thamirabarani (Porunai) river in Thoothukudi district. Adichanallur is a very large urn-burial ground first dug by Alexander Rea around 1899 to 1905, and the ASI excavated it again in 2004 to 2005. Urns held bones and grave goods, including iron tools and bronze items. At Sivakalai, the State Department of Archaeology reported in 2025 radiocarbon dates that push the use of iron in the state far earlier than earlier estimates. Treat specific dates as reported findings. The question you will see is usually "where".
Arikamedu
Arikamedu was excavated by Mortimer Wheeler in 1945 and again by Vimala Begley in 1989 to 1992. It lies at Ariyankuppam near Puducherry, which is a Union Territory and not part of Tamil Nadu, but it is taught within Tamil history. Roman amphorae, glassware and Arretine ware show trade with the Roman world. Scholars link the site with "Poduke" in the Greek sailors' guide, the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.
Kodumanal, Poompuhar and Alagankulam
- Kodumanal appears in the Sangam poem collection Pathitruppathu as "Kodumanam". Excavations found beryl and carnelian bead-making, iron smelting and megalithic burials.
- Poompuhar is the Chola port that features in the Silappathikaram and Pattinappalai. Underwater explorations by the National Institute of Oceanography have been reported off the coast.
- Alagankulam is a port at the mouth of the Vaigai where Roman-type pottery has been found.
Inscription sites
Mangulam, near Madurai, has among the earliest Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, usually dated to the 2nd century BCE. Pugalur near Karur has inscriptions naming Chera rulers. Uttaramerur preserves Chola inscriptions on the working of a village assembly. The Government Museum, Chennai (founded 1851) and the State Department of Archaeology hold many of the finds.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Keezhadi?
In Sivaganga district, near Madurai, on the bank of the Vaigai river. It is a Sangam-age settlement and not a World Heritage Site.
Which site is the Tamil Nadu urn-burial ground?
Adichanallur in Thoothukudi district, on the Thamirabarani. It is the standard answer for urn burials in Tamil Nadu.
Is Arikamedu in Tamil Nadu?
No, it is in Puducherry, a Union Territory close to Tamil Nadu. It is part of Tamil history because of the Indo-Roman trade.
Who found the first Palaeolithic tool in India?
Robert Bruce Foote, a British geologist, in 1863 at Pallavaram near Chennai.
How are these sites covered in TNPSC?
They fall in the Tamil Nadu history and culture unit. Use the TNPSC Tamil Nadu history and culture guide to see how much weight the unit carries, then learn the table above.
Official sources
- Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology: excavation reports and site notes.
- Archaeological Survey of India: excavation and monument records.
- Government Museum, Chennai: galleries on the Tamil past.
Excavations are ongoing and dates are revised, so read the latest notice on the department site before relying on a specific date.
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