It is a known fact that Keezhadi came to be known as a very important archaeological site in Madurai. Similar sites were excavated in the Kongu region on the Noyyal banks by archaeologists. Noyyal is and will be one of the defining cultures on the ancient trade route. Noyyal flows through Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Kodumanal and joins the Kaviri. There is also a place called Noyyal through which the Noyyal actually flows. Excavations have taken place in Kodumanal by Prof. Rajan and his students.

Now it is excavated by Ranjit. Kodumanal is connected to Karur on the East and Musiri on the western side. Both burial and industrial sites have been identified. Megalithic burials have been found holding priceless treasures. This time they have taken human bones from one of the urns and have sent it for genetic analysis. This region along the Noyyal is known for Cairn circles where they have secondary burials. They are locally called as “Pandian Kuzhi”, which is a distortion of “Mandavar Kuzhi”.

Several potsherds carrying Tamili characters and graffiti have been unearthed. It is also interesting to find that these potsherds carry old Tamil names and also names that can be identified with the Kongu clan names today. For eg. Anthuvan, Sathan are the names that have been identified. These names are incidentally Clan names in this region. This has been recorded by Prof. Rajan and Mr. R. Balakrishnan.

Balakrishnan also says that these names are found in Sangam literature.

Kongu region being archaeologically sensitive and connected, only proves the antiquity of its people and their occupations. Kongu region holds a lot of surprises that would one day prove to this world its connections with the rest of the world – what people did, where they traded, what they traded and so on? Let the Government excavate more sites that will prove our history and antiquity.

Karthikeya Sivasenapathy