Trenches closed at Keezhadi site, land handed over to owners

On Monday, all the 10 trenches were closed at Keezhadi with the help of two JCB machines.

Official sources at Keezhadi said, they had placed plastic sheets over the ancient structures to keep them intact and also to mark the excavated place. The sheets were then covered with sand so that even in case of any future requirements the trenches could be dug up with ease. 

Excavation at Keezhadi archaeological site had commenced in 2015 and since then three phases of excavation had been completed. More than 7,000 artefacts were unearthed in the three phases of excavation with the least and insignificant artefacts in the third phase. 

The age of the artefacts had been estimated at 200 BC. There were many criticisms surrounding Keezhadi and one of the major criticisms is the issue that the Central government is trying to shut down the excavation at Keezhadi as the site is one of the key places where ancient Tamil civilisation once flourished. 

In the meantime, a plea was also filed at the court demanding construction of an on-site museum at Keezhadi and continuation of the fourth phase of excavation there. Judges too visited Keezhadi and learnt about the excavation process.