An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.t4.10

v1.c9.s18.t4.10

*4.18.12 S. and s.-w. region* The period of early historical cultures in Tamil Nadu and Kerala largely overlaps the age of the Tamil Śaṅgam, usually assigned to the first three centuries A.D. During the last 30 years a number of vertical excavations at selected sites in Tamil Nadu and Kerala throw light on the cultural equipment and attainments of the people and corroborate in some measure the evidence from the Śaṅgam literature. The excavated sites include KANCHIPURAM and VASAVASAMUDRAM (Palar basin), KARUR, TIRUKKAMPULIYUR, ALAGARAI, URAIYUR and KĀVERĪPŪMPAṬṬIṆAM (lower Kaveri valley) and KORKAI (lower Tamraparni), besides the coastal sites of ARIKAMEDU (near Pondicherry) and NATTAMEDU (Dt s. Arcot.) in the e., all in Tamil Nadu, and KONDUNGALUR in Kerala. The reports except those of ARIKAMEDU, TIRUKKAMPULIYUR and ALAGARAI have not yet been published. Most of the sites, archaeologically speaking, came into prominence in the 3rd-2nd centuries B.C. and continued to flourish even after the early historical period.