Kodumanal likely to get a new lease of life with excavation

It will reveal facets of ancient architecture





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Noyyal civilisation as old as Sangam Age 2,000 years ago
Residents had trade links with Greece, Rome and Persia
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Erode: Kodumanal, a historic site on the northern bank of River Noyyal, may get a new lease of life if efforts initiated by the district administration to get an excavation done are anything to go by.

According to sources, Collector T. Udayachandran, after talking to Pulavar S. Raju, credited with discovering the site in 1980, has written to the State Government seeking funds to excavate the site as well as prepare short films.

Jain temple


The latter is also said to include the famous Jain temple in Vijayamangalam.

It is learnt that a proposal for Rs. 10 lakh has been prepared - Rs. 2 lakh towards purchasing tools and equipments, Rs. 5 lakh for the excavation itself, Rs. 1 lakh for short films, another Rs. 1 lakh for closing the excavation site and an equal sum for publication - and sent to the principal commissioner, State Archaeology Department.

Mr. Raju feels the excavation, as and when it takes place, will yield richer finds.

"I have reasons to believe that new excavation will throw new light on our ancestors' architecture, town planning, lifestyle, etc.

Stone industry


"And, it will also bring to the fore additional information on the stone industry, for which Kodumanal was famous."

Underscoring the importance of the place where history lies buried, waiting to be discovered, the expert epigraphist and Tamil scholar points out that Noyyal civilisation is as old as the Sangam Age - easily 2000 years old.

Of the 20 places that are currently associated with the Sangam Age in Tamil Nadu, three are in Kongu Nadu and Kodumanal is one of them, the other two being Poluvampatti near Coimbatore and Karur.

"Kodumanal has yielded the highest number of pottery pieces related to the Age - 150 pieces - and Roman coins," Mr. Raju, adding that Kodumanal residents had trade links with Greece, Rome, Persia and other civilisations.

The residents traded in precious and semi-precious stones, bangles and ornaments made of conch and other articles.

In fact, the site hosted an ornament-manufacturing industry, to which the Romans were so hooked that at one stage the balance of trade in favour of Kodumanal forced the Romans to almost stop trading.

Two parts


At present, Kodumanal, historically known as Kodumanam, is divided into two parts - burial site and living quarters.

The proposed excavation, if comes through, will be after 17 years.

The last was in 1990. Earlier occasions when excavations took places are 1985, 1986 and 1989.