Topics Covered:
Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Sangam civilisation older than thought
What to study?
For Prelims: Overview of Sangam period.
For Mains: Significance of Recent findings.
Context: Carbon samples collected from Keezhadi, the Sangam-era site, have been found to belong to 580 BC, according to accelerator mass spectrometry dating results.
This suggests that the urbanisation of Vaigai plains happened earlier than thought – around the 6th century BC.
Key findings and revelations:
- Tamil Brahmi script originated in the 6th century BC. People were either literate or at least knew the art of writing as early as the 6th century BC.
- Literate society: Tamil Brahmi letters found were inscribed when the pot was wet or after the pot became dry. This clearly suggests literacy levels in the 6th century BC.
- Agrarian society that reared cattle: Skeletal fragments of cow/ox, buffalo, sheep, goat, nilgai, blackbuck, wild boar and peacock were found.
- Good quality materials used for building: The brick and roof tiles contained more than 80% silica mixed with 7% lime while lime plaster possessed 97% of lime.
- High standard of living: Long walls, Well-laid floors along with roof tiles in a collapsed state, iron nails fastened to the poles and rafters prove a high standard of living during the Sangam age.
Sources: the Hindu.
