An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c14.s5.2

v1.c14.s5.2

The *teri* group has been studied in slightly greater detail than the other. The word *teri* in Tamil would mean sandy waste. At the same time a lake is called *eri* and wasteland *tei*; as such *teri* may also possibly mean ‘wasted lake’. If so it rightly signifies the origin of these sites. During the post-Pleistocene period [9.8.4] there was a series of marine regressions and aggressions in the s.most end of the e. coast. An emergence of 13·7 m has been calculated on the basis of the fossils of species of pectern and oysters found 5 m above the coastline at Tuticorin. These are the species which are now found at about the 5 fathom line. Simultaneously tree trunks have been found under shallow water. In fact Ceylon got connected and disconnected with India several times. While the aggressions were minor in nature, the regressions were more substantial. The formation of the *teris* was therefore based on the resultant regression. Series of *teri* sites occur in a line, each series almost equidistant from the sea. The most inland *teris* are therefore the earliest ones. The sand-dunes are of aeolian origin. Below the shifting sands of the dunes which are of subrecent origin occur soils in two horizons, A and B, A being a completely immature soil and B seemingly slightly older.