Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu): Excavations at Korakai in the Thoothukudi district have uncovered a 2800-year-old brick construction and cone sawing site.
Archaeological excavations at Adichanallur, Sivakalai and Korkai in the Thoothukudi district on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Tamil Nadu have been underway since February 26. Excavations have already been carried out on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Tamil Nadu in 1968 and 1969.
That excavation was the first excavation done after the formation of the Archaeological Survey of Tamil Nadu. During the excavations, it was determined that the city of Korkai was 2800 years old. It is said that there was a port here and sea transport and import from here and it became the capital of the Pandya king.
Archaeological excavations are currently underway in the ancient port city of Korkai on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Survey after 52 years. Led by excavation director Thangathurai, the excavators employ more than 25 person, including Asaithambi and Kaliswaran. 11 pits have been dug in the Korkai area for this excavation work.
Excavations at Korkai have uncovered a 2,800-year-old brick structure. All of the bricks in this brick construction are of enormous size.
Similarly, the conches are found in a fully pitted and decomposed state in a pit that confirms that the conch industry took place in this area 2800 years ago. Also found in many forms are the stones used to lay the conch in the same pit. Also found in these excavation pits are numerous antiquities such as cones, cone bangle pieces, pieces of iron steel, black and red pottery tiles, scratches and markers. Thus this excavation work is considered to be very important.
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The port of Korkai has been a major trading centre. The items found in the previous inspection were displayed in the Courtallam depository in the Tenkasi district.
Caldwell, a foreign Tamil scholar, wrote that when he excavated the area, he found all the cones and foreign coins in the street. A lot of cones are still found here and there during excavations. When the results of the complete excavation of Korkai are released, the time will come when the world will speak better of the pride of Tamil. Therefore, archaeologists are eagerly awaiting the excavation.
According to writer Muthalankurichi Kamarasu, there is a very old Ganesha temple in Korkai. There are numerous inscriptions in it. These inscriptions are covered in yellow. The temple needs to be renovated so that the inscriptions are visible on the outside without altering the antiquity.
Similarly, a model port should be set up at the site of the Korkai port for public viewing. MGR made arrangements for this when he was chief minister. The plan has since been shelved. He said the back Korkai area should be better visualized.
