Amethyst crystal found in a gemstone making industry at a habitation site unearthed at Kodumanal in Erode district. This important discovery was made during excavations at Kodumanal village in Erode district by the Department of History of Pondicherry University in May 2012. Beads from semi-precious stones such as quartz, carnelian, lapiz-lazuli, beryl, agate and so on were manufactured in this industrial complex Photo: K.Ananthan
A potsherd with the Tamil-Brahmi inscription reading 'Sam...', unearthed from one of the four habitation site trenches laid in Kodumanal village in Erode district in Tamil Nadu in May 2012. The excavation was done by the Department of History of Pondicherry University under the directorship of Prof. K. Rajan. Photo: K.Ananthan
A black polished ring stand unearthed in Kodumanal village. Dr. Rajan said: “Kodumanal is one of the major horizontal excavations done so far in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the sites in India where the highest number of inscribed potsherds have been found. The highest number of graves was opened here. The presence of pit-burial with skeletons in different postures, urn burials and chamber tombs of different types suggests that multi-ethnic groups lived at Kodumanal. The availability of Prakrit words such as ‘Tissan' and ‘Visaki' in Tamil-Brahmi scripts suggests that this industrial-cum-trade centre had cultural and trade contacts with northern parts of India.” Photo: K.Ananthan
Red and black polished ware unearthed in Kodumanal village. The artefacts unearthed from four trenches in the habitational mound have revealed an industrial complex that existed around fourth century BCE. The industries in the complex made iron and steel, textiles, bangles out of conch-shells and thousands of exquisite beads from semi-precious stones such as sapphire, beryl, quartz, lapis-lazuli, agate, onyx, carnelian and black-cat eye, and ivory. Photo: K.Ananthan
"This is the transcript of the Tamil-Brahmi script reading "Samban Sumanan" that has been found on a big pot in the archaeological excavation conducted in April and May 2012 at Kodumanal village. Dr. K. Rajan, Director of the excavation, has dated this Tamil-Brahmi script to circa third century BCE/second century BCE." Photo: K. Rajan
One of the two cist burial sites excavated at Kodumanal in Erode district by K.Rajan and his team in May 2012.This cist burial can be dated to about 2,200 years before the present. The main transepted cist is flanked by two subsidiary cists. All the three cists met with a common passage at the front. The main cist has trapeze-shaped porthole and the two two subsidiary cists have round port hole and a keyhole type port hole respectively. Photo: K.Ananthan
Parts of a copper anklet found in a gemstone making industry at a habitation site unearthed at Kodumanal in Erode district. Beads from semi-precious stones such as quartz, carnelian, lapiz-lazuli, beryl, agate and so on were manufactured in this industrial complex Photo: K.Ananthan
Black onyx beads found in a gemstone making industry at a habitation site unearthed at Kodumanal. This important discovery was made during excavations at Kodumanal village in Erode district by the Department of History of Pondicherry University in May 2012. Photo: K. Ananthan
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