State govt seeks Centre's assistance for three new onsite museums

“Along with Keezhadi, the government has decided to set up onsite museums in Adichanallur and in Korkai. We have asked Rs 2 crore assistance per site for setting up the museums from the Central government,” said Pandiarajan, while addressing reporters after inaugurating the training programme for officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department at the Government Museum in Egmore.

When asked about why artefacts excavated at Keezhadi were shifted to the ASI office in Mysuru, Pandiarajan replied that only the artefacts excavated in phase I and II were sent and the artefacts excavated in phase III are kept at the museum inside the secretariat.

“The artefacts excavated in phase IV are kept in a school in Keezhadi itself,” said Pandiarajan.

When asked about gold artefacts excavated in Keezhadi, he replied that only a scant quantity of gold was found there. “Media made the issue big, but only 10 gram of gold was found in Keezhadi,” said the Minister.

He also said that at present 1.22 lakh artefacts were exhibited in 35 museums across the State and it was only one fourth of the artefacts. Remaining artefacts are kept in strong rooms in various museums.

Pandiarajan further said the State government is in the process of setting up four more museums. “New museums would be setup in Pudukkottai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchy and Ariyalur districts. The one in Ariyalur is called ‘Dinosaur museum’, as it contains only prehistoric artefacts.”

Stating that archaeological excavations have advanced, Pandiarajan said: “Earlier, carbon dating methods were used to ascertain the age of artefacts but now fluorescence method is used to ascertain ages. While the radio carbon dating method took six months to find the age of the artefacts the fluorescence method requires only six days."