A terracotta pipeline was unearthed during the 10th phase of archaeological excavations at Keeladi, Tamil Nadu, India. The pipeline shows the existence of a sophisticated ancient water management system used about 2600 years ago.
Previously researchers had found an open drain, a closed channel, and several small tanks in Keeladi. The presence of these and the newly discovered terracotta pipe indicated a well-designed water management system.
Keeladi and terracotta pipeline network
Keeladi was first discovered in 2014 by K Amarnath Ramakrishna of the Archaeological Survey of India. It is located roughly 11 kilometres from Madurai. Over the past decade, more than 20,000 artefacts and antiquities have been discovered at the site. The civilisation at Keeladi is believed to be at least 2600 years old. The discovery of the water management system at Keeladi is evidence of how advanced and developed the settlement and its inhabitants were.
The terracotta pipeline dates back to the 6th century CE, placing its existence in the Sangam Period, which was renowned for its rich literary heritage and thriving trade. The pipeline is constructed from baked clay and was found buried around 10 feet below the surface, running parallel to the ancient settlement’s layout.
According to a report, archaeologists have found six cylindrical structures, all of which make a singular, long pipeline. Each cylinder is roughly 14 inches in length and seven inches wide. The pipelines are believed to carry fresh water.
” The six cylindrical structures are neatly fitted together. The entire pipeline is at a length of about 174 cm. This has been fully unearthed now. This pipeline continues to the adjacent trench. This could have been used for carrying protected water,” said an official from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology.
An archaeological officer told the Deccan Herald, ” This shows that the inhabitants of Keeladi practised effective water management skills. We will know more about their practices once we get to know what is there in the other trench.”
The discovery provides substantial evidence that the Sangam period civilization was remarkably advanced in multiple areas of daily life, such as urban planning, architecture, and water management.
Indian History from a Tamil perspective
Indian history is more often than not studied and understood from the North Indian gaze. Indus Valley civilisations’ advanced urban planning and water management system are often considered the pinnacle of advanced civilisation in ancient India. However, this discovery challenges those claims.
Analyses of artefacts from Keeladi have revealed that Tamil society was home to a thriving industrial settlement 2,600 years ago, pushing the origins of the Tamil script back several centuries to the 7th century BCE.
An official noted, “Archaeologists have confirmed the existence of an urban civilization along the Vaigai River through evidence of habitation, the coexistence of diverse populations, literacy, brickmaking, various industries such as bead and terracotta production, and advanced water management.”
Artefacts uncovered at Keeladi have moved the timeline of the Sangam era from 300 BCE to 600 BCE Additionally, evidence indicates that the Tamils were familiar with iron technology as early as 2172 BCE, 4,200 years ago.
These findings have been documented by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDSA), with Indian Chief Minister M K Stalin emphasising that India’s history should be reexamined from the perspective of the Tamil region.