Ancient Site Sparks Heated Political Debate about India's Past

A view of an excavated site in Keeladi. (Archaeological Survey of India)
A view of an excavated site in Keeladi. (Archaeological Survey of India)
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Ancient Site Sparks Heated Political Debate about India's Past

A view of an excavated site in Keeladi. (Archaeological Survey of India)
A view of an excavated site in Keeladi. (Archaeological Survey of India)

The Keeladi village in India's southern Tamil Nadu state has unearthed archeological finds that have sparked a political and historical debate.

Amid coconut groves, a series of 15ft (4.5m) deep trenches reveal ancient artifacts buried in layers of soil - fragments of terracotta pots, and traces of long-lost brick structures, BBC reported on Monday.

Experts from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology estimate the artifacts to be 2,000 to 2,500 years old, with the oldest dating back to around 580 BCE. They say these findings challenge and reshape existing narratives about early civilization in the Indian subcontinent.

With politicians, historians, and epigraphists weighing in, Keeladi has moved beyond archaeology, becoming a symbol of state pride and identity amid competing historical narratives.

Yet history enthusiasts say it remains one of modern India's most compelling and accessible discoveries - offering a rare opportunity to deepen understanding of a shared past.

Keeladi, a village 12km (7 miles) from Madurai on the banks of the Vaigai river, was one of 100 sites shortlisted for excavation by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishnan in 2013.

He selected a 100-acre site there because of its proximity to ancient Madurai and the earlier discovery of red-and-black pottery ware by a schoolteacher in 1975.

Ajay Kumar, leading the state archaeology team at Keeladi, said the key finds are elaborate brick structures and water systems - evidence of a 2,500-year-old urban settlement.

“This was a literate, urban society where people had separate spaces for habitation, burial practices and industrial work,” Kumar said, noting it's the first large, well-defined ancient urban settlement found in southern India.

William Daniel, a teacher from neighboring Kerala, said the discoveries made him feel proud about his heritage.

“It gives people from the south [of India] something to feel proud about, that our civilization is just as ancient and important as the one in the north [of India],” he said.

The politics surrounding Keeladi reflects a deep-rooted north-south divide - underscoring how understanding the present requires grappling with the past.

India's first major civilization, the Indus Valley, emerged in the north and central regions between 3300 and 1300 BCE. After its decline, a second urban phase, the Vedic period, rose in the Gangetic plains, lasting until the 6th Century BCE.

This phase saw major cities, powerful kingdoms and the rise of Vedic culture - a foundation for Hinduism. As a result, urbanization in ancient India is often viewed as a northern phenomenon, with a dominant narrative that the northern Aryans "civilized" the Dravidian south.

This is especially evident in the mainstream understanding of the spread of literacy.

It is believed that the Ashokan Brahmi script - found on Mauryan king Ashoka's rock edicts in northern and central India, dating back to the 3rd Century BCE - is the predecessor of most scripts in South and Southeast Asia.

Epigraphists like Iravatham Mahadevan and Y Subbarayalu have long held the view that the Tamil Brahmi script - the Tamil language spoken in Tamil Nadu and written in the Brahmi script - was an offshoot of the Ashokan Brahmi script.

But now, archaeologists from the Tamil Nadu state department say that the excavations at Keeladi are challenging this narrative.

“We have found graffiti in the Tamil Brahmi script dating back to the 6th Century BCE, which shows that it is older than the Ashokan Brahmi script. We believe that both scripts developed independently and, perhaps, emerged from the Indus Valley script,” Kumar said.

Epigraphist S Rajavelu, former professor of marine archaeology at the Tamil University, agrees with Kumar and said other excavation sites in the state too have unearthed graffiti in the Tamil Brahmi script dating back to the 5th and 4th Century BCE.

But some experts say that more research and evidence are needed to conclusively prove the antiquity of the Tamil Brahmi script.



Saudi Arabia, UK Announce 2029 as Saudi-UK Year of Culture

Saudi Arabia, UK Announce 2029 as Saudi-UK Year of Culture
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Saudi Arabia, UK Announce 2029 as Saudi-UK Year of Culture

Saudi Arabia, UK Announce 2029 as Saudi-UK Year of Culture

The Saudi Ministry of Culture and the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport have announced the year 2029 as the official Saudi-UK Year of Culture, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday. The announcement follows an official visit by Britain’s Prince William to Saudi Arabia this week.

For nearly a century, formal relations between Saudi Arabia and the UK and Northern Ireland have evolved into a multifaceted international relationship that has expanded across culture, education, and innovation, reflecting shared values and a mutual commitment to long-term cooperation.

In recent years, cultural exchange has emerged as a cornerstone of Saudi-British relations, driven by joint initiatives in heritage conservation, visual and culinary arts, architecture, and higher education.

This ongoing expansion of cultural exchange lays the foundation for the Saudi-UK Year of Culture 2029, a year-long program celebrating creative dialogue and the shared heritage of Saudi Arabia and the UK, while deepening cultural ties for generations to come. It will also be a great opportunity for young people in both countries to connect in new ways.

Supported by Saudi Vision 2030 and the United Kingdom’s continued promotion of cultural innovation and creativity, the Saudi-UK Year of Culture 2029 will be an important milestone for both countries.


Prince William Visits Historic, Natural Sites in AlUla Accompanied by Saudi Culture Minister

The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development. (SPA)
The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development. (SPA)
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Prince William Visits Historic, Natural Sites in AlUla Accompanied by Saudi Culture Minister

The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development. (SPA)
The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development. (SPA)

Britain’s Prince William visited a number of historic, natural, and cultural sites in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla, accompanied by Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

During his tour, Prince William reviewed a number of environmental initiatives at Sharaan Nature Reserve, including ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation efforts. He was briefed on programs to rehabilitate natural habitats, restore ecological balance, and reintroduce species such as the Arabian oryx and mountain ibex, contributing to long-term goals for the recovery of the Arabian leopard in its natural environment.

He received an overview of the history of AlUla Old Town and the Incense Road, and the role of culture and arts as a bridge for cultural exchange between the two countries. The visit included viewing artworks at AlUla Arts Festival 2026.

Prince William met with Saudi youths participating in joint cultural programs and initiatives between the two countries. The visit also featured a tour of AlUla Oasis Cultural District.

The visit highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership between the Royal Commission for AlUla and British cultural institutions within an organized framework of cooperation encompassing cultural, educational, and environmental entities, supporting balanced and sustainable development in AlUla and reinforcing its status as a global destination for heritage, culture, and nature.


Workshop Held to Develop Cultural Heritage Documentation, Digital Archiving Guide in Saudi Arabia

The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. SPA
The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. SPA
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Workshop Held to Develop Cultural Heritage Documentation, Digital Archiving Guide in Saudi Arabia

The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. SPA
The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. SPA

The Saudi Ministry of Culture organized a specialized workshop to review and develop the third edition of the Cultural Heritage Documentation and Digital Archiving Guide in the Kingdom.

The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners, as part of the center’s efforts to standardize methodologies for documenting and archiving cultural heritage and to enhance institutional practices for managing national cultural memory.

The workshop forms part of the Ministry of Culture’s ongoing efforts to establish national standard frameworks for the management and digital documentation of cultural heritage, strengthen integration among entities, and equip practitioners with the necessary tools and methodologies.

These efforts reinforce the role of the Saudi cultural memory center in preserving the Kingdom’s cultural memory and support the objectives of the National Culture Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030.