Thamirabarani River Civilization: Tamil Nadu
Recently, carbon dating of organic materials obtained from archaeological excavations at Sivakalai in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu has revealed that the Thamirabarani river civilization of Tamil Nadu is at least 3,200 years old.
It is probably the oldest civilization, and even older than the ‘Vaigai Civilization’, which is believed to be 2,600 years old.
Key Points
- The Thamirabarani/Porunai is a perennial river flowing in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, originating in the Western Ghats (Agastyarkudam peak of the Pothigai hills), and drains into the Gulf of Mannar after passing through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts.
- This excavation may provide evidence that the Porunai River (Thamirabarani) civilization was an urban civilization in the later part of the Indus Valley Civilization 3,200 years ago in South India.
- In the first phase of research, the ancient port of Muziris in Kerala, now known as Pattanam, will be studied to establish the antiquity and culture of the Chera Empire.
- It will also be studied in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, where Raja Rajendra Chola, the greatest ruler of the Chola dynasty, established supremacy.
Other recent evidence:
Recently, during excavations at Keezhadi in Tamil Nadu, a coin marked with a silver punch was found, with symbols for the sun, moon, taurine and other geometric patterns. It is known from the studies done on it that this coin obtained is from the 4th century BC, which is before the time of the ancient Maurya Empire (321-185 BC).
Radio Carbon Dating
- Radiocarbon dating or carbon dating is an absolute method also known as “absolute dating”. However, it does not give the absolute date of the organic matter – but gives an estimated age.
- Radiocarbon dating is a method of determining the age of animal and plant remains. Carbon-14 is used for this work. This element is found in all living beings.
- Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon with a half-life of 5,730 years.
- Radio carbon dating developed in the 1940s. A team of researchers led by Willard F. Libby first calculated the rate of radioactive decay of the C14 isotope in carbon black powder.
Source – The Hindu
