Dive into the archeological sites of Athirambakam, Adichanallur situated on the banks of the Thamirabarani river, Kheezadi situated on the banks of the Vaigai river and the ancient Tamil civilizations associated with it.

1. The Vaigai and Thamirabarani
River civilizations

2. I am Arvind Subramiam
I am here to discuss about the relevance of understanding
history and how it helps understand why we behave the way
do.
Hello!
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3. “
History is a narration of the events which have
happened among mankind, including an account of
the rise and fall of civilisations, as well as of other
great changes which have affected the political and
social condition of the human race.
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4. Culture and Language shapes thought
...and cutlrues and languages change for every 200kms and every 200 years.
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5. Why is it necessary for us to study our own history ?
◉ To understand where we come from.
◉ To understand what our ancestors did and
learn from their mistakes
◉ Evolution of science and arts
◉ Predict the future
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6. What is Civilisation?
Characteristics
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7. Cities
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8. Society
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9. Government
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10. Arts
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Arts
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11. Writing
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12. Early Civilisations
We are all products of immigration from Africa between 300,000-65,000 years
ago.
It happened in four waves
…..or so we thought
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14. What is
missing ?
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15. Early Tamil Civilisation
Who were they ? Where did we come from ?
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16. Athirambakam...
One small village 60kms outside of chennai threw a spanner in the works of world
historians. They still cant explain it.
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18. The Vaigai River civilisation
Around the city of Madurai and the Pandya Kingdom
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19. Kheezhadi
◉ Close to 300 sites were identified by ASI on
the Vaigai river basin
◉ Excavation at Kheezhadi started 5 years ago
◉ After retrieving 75,000+ artefacts the ASI
abandoned Kheezadi after 3 stages. Now the
State Archeology department is undertaking
the 5th stage.
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20. Kheezadi
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21. Kheezadi- 13 ring well
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22. Kheezadi- pot with
spout
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23. Kheezadi- Large Pot
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24. Kheezadi- Furnace
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25. Kheezadi- Grain
Storage
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26. Kheezadi- Assorted
(Web)
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27. po ku i e ku n ri ko ta i
Kodai from Pokai
Kundru
Found in Tenur,
Madurai
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28. Kheezhadi - what does it teach us
and questions raised?
◉ An urban civilisation that existed 600 years
before Christ or possibly earlier
◉ The cities mentioned in Sangam Litreature were
true
◉ Could there be 3 Madurais? Was Kheezadi the
Madurai that Kannagi burnt?
◉ No place of worship or Idols found. Could
Kheezhadi be a city of Atheists and Rationalists.
◉ Did Harrapans travel south and establish the
modern cities ? 28

29. The Thamirabarani civilisation
A 4000 year old Tamil Culture
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30. Adichanallur
◉ Held famous for “Mudhumakkal” Thali
◉ Hundreds of burial pots found with pearls, gems
and gold.
◉ Authoritatively dated at 1900BC
◉ Post Indus Valley and Pre Sangam.
◉ Currently Indias oldest historical site and first
excavation.
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31. Adichanallur
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32. Ancient Tamilagam
Vengadam-Kumari
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33. Summarising the Glorious Sangam Age
◉ Happened more than 2600 years
◉ Written Tamil could be 3000 years old and
spoken Tamil could be even older
◉ Sangam Age gave raise to numerous works of
literature...Purananooru, Agananooru, Naladiyar,
Thirukural etc...
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34. What comes after?
Kalabahra Intterungam
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35. The Brahmi Script ! Where was it
Invented?
Ashokan Brahmi vs Tamili
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36. Brahmi Script
◉ It is the oldest writing script found in the
Subcontinent
◉ The belief among Indian historians is that it
evolved from Indus script and was standardised
during Ashoka's time.
◉ It is believed that Jains and Buddhists bought it
south and introduced it to write Tamil.
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37. Indus script and seals
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38. Complete indus corpus
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39. Brahmi Scipt
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40. Tamil Brahmi from
Chittanavasal
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41. Was Brahmi really invented in North
India?
◉ Most number of Brahmi inscriptions found are in
Tamil and spread geographically in South India
and Northern Sri Lanka.
◉ Earliest dated Tamil Brahmi inscription found in
Sri Lanka in 3rd century vs earliest Ashokan
Brahmi is 2 century
◉ Porunthal excavations have established
authoritatively that Tamil Brahmi/Tamili existed in
5th century BCE by carbon dating.
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42. What can these ancient civilisations
teach us about society?
◉ What kind of people could have lived there ?
◉ If pots were inscribed who could have done
them?
◉ Who could have been the most educated ?
◉ Who could have been the most influential and
powerfull person in town?
◉ What does Sangam Literature talk about
“Kazham seiyum Kovel” and “Muduvai Kuyavan”
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43. Any questions ?
You can find me at
◉ FB: Arvind Subramaniam
◉ @arvind_p
Thanks!
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