Madurai
Like Keezhadi archeological site, which which was discovered in Sivaganga district revealed after three rounds of excavations several new facts such as the urban life of people who lived 2,000 to 2,300 years ago, a similar archeological site much older than Keezhadi was found in Peraiyur village near Kamuthi, close to the riverbed of Gundar river.
The site was discovered by two men, K Muniyasamy, a teacher, and T Shankar, an engineer, from Peraiyur. The duo had found few antiques from a mound and a Sengamadai Raja temple in Peraiyur and then informed Ramanathapuram Archeological Research Foundation (RARF).
Based on the information, V Rajaguru, President of RARF, carried out field exploration and found out that the antiques belong to various historical phases such as microlithic, mesolithic, Sangam era, medival period and so on.
Speaking to DT Next, Rajaguru said that in Sengamadai Raja Temple there is a large brick structure and by seeing the dimensions of the bricks with length 30 cms, breadth 17 cms and height 6 cms it is clear that the bricks belong to 1st century AD and it can be concluded that the brick structure was constructed during Sangam era.
Also in the northern part of barren lands in the village, another temple lying under the surface has bricks with dimensions resembling that of 10 century AD and it can be concluded that the temple would have been constructed in the medival era. The elders of the village also informed him that there was a palace in the village and it was destroyed.
Speaking about the discovered antiques, he said that fine black and red ware, rimless bowls, spindle whorl, terracotta smoking pipe, whetstone, sling stone, iron arrow heads, iron ware, slags, hopscotches, terracotta stand, terracotta pipe, perforated sherds, graffiti potsherd, ground stone, rubbing stone, celadon, porcelain artifacts, Chinese ware, garlic shaped beards, rouletted Roman ware sherds and so were discovered.
Also proofs of microlithic tools, smaller in size, such as quartz, jasper, crystal, stones made of bi-facial points, blades and scrappers were also found. The new site had thrown open fresh possibility of existence of Gundar river civilization and if excavated it will provide abundance of artifacts like Keezhadi.
Archeological Survey of India(ASI) and the state archeological department should carry out excavation in the sites to establish Gundar River Civilization that had existed for several centuries, said Rajaguru.
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