The archaeological site of Keezhadi, located along the Vaigai river in southern Tamil Nadu, has revealed fascinating insights into ancient urban life. Excavations have uncovered brick structures, canals, and pottery, which resonate with narratives found in Sangam literature, illustrating a well-organized habitation.
Situated in the Sivaganga district, Keezhadi lies on a mound within the Vaigai floodplain. While the ancient structures remain hidden beneath layers of sand, silt, and clay, understanding when these layers were deposited is crucial. This dating allows researchers to differentiate between periods of human occupation and subsequent natural events that may have led to damage or abandonment.
A team from the Physical Research Laboratory and the Department of Archaeology, Tamil Nadu, employed optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to assess the burial sediments. This innovative technique estimates the last time mineral grains were exposed to sunlight. By collecting and analyzing sediment samples from two excavation pits, researchers could determine when flood deposits sealed the archaeological layers.
The OSL dating results span approximately 1,200 years, showing a variation with depth consistent with layered flood deposits. Older sediments reside deeper, while shallower layers are more recent. This indicates a dynamic sedimentation process, where fine silty clay layers overlay coarser sand, suggesting a high-energy flood followed by calmer deposition.
Researchers concluded that the urban-like structures of Keezhadi were buried approximately 1,155 years ago due to significant flooding of the Vaigai river. This finding emphasizes the impact of natural disasters on ancient settlements and their habitation patterns.
The findings from Keezhadi contribute to understanding late Holocene climate variability, indicating that South Indian rivers have experienced shifts between wetter and drier phases. The current course of the Vaigai, now several kilometers from Keezhadi, suggests significant long-term landscape changes. By determining when flooding occurred at the site, archaeologists can better interpret Keezhadi’s history and inform future excavations, revealing how environmental factors have historically influenced human settlements.
Q1. What is Keezhadi known for?
Answer: Keezhadi is an archaeological site in Tamil Nadu that has revealed evidence of ancient urban life through excavated structures and artifacts linked to Sangam literature.
Q2. How is OSL dating used in archaeology?
Answer: Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating measures when sediments were last exposed to sunlight, allowing archaeologists to date burial layers and understand site history.
Q3. What environmental factors affected Keezhadi?
Answer: Flooding from the Vaigai river impacted Keezhadi, leading to burial of structures and altering habitation patterns, highlighting the relationship between climate and human settlement.
Q4. Why is sediment dating important for Keezhadi?
Answer: Dating sediments helps separate periods of human occupation from natural events, providing a clearer timeline of the site's history and the environmental conditions affecting it.
Q5. What does the archaeological evidence suggest about urban life in Keezhadi?
Answer: The evidence indicates a structured urban environment with organized habitation, as reflected in the brick structures and artifacts discovered at the site.
Question 1: What technique was used to date the burial sediments at Keezhadi?
A) Radiocarbon dating
B) Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating
C) Dendrochronology
D) Stratigraphy
Correct Answer: B
Question 2: Approximately how many years ago were the urban-like structures at Keezhadi buried?
A) 800 years ago
B) 1,155 years ago
C) 1,200 years ago
D) 1,500 years ago
Correct Answer: B
Question 3: What does the analysis of sediment layers at Keezhadi indicate?
A) Continuous human habitation
B) Impact of high-energy flooding
C) Only natural deposits
D) Lack of archaeological significance
Correct Answer: B
Question 4: Which river is associated with the flooding events at Keezhadi?
A) Ganges
B) Godavari
C) Vaigai
D) Krishna
Correct Answer: C
Question 5: What broader climatic context do the findings from Keezhadi fit into?
A) Stable climate phases
B) Late Holocene climate variability
C) Urban climate change
D) Industrial climate impact
Correct Answer: B
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