Keezhadi civilisation had advanced town planning, suggests fifth phase of excavation

Two terracotta pipes unearthed at Keezhadi indicate that the civilization had water management practices and infrastructure.
Keezhadi civilisation had advanced town planning, suggests fifth phase of excavation
Keezhadi civilisation had advanced town planning, suggests fifth phase of excavation
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The fifth phase of excavation at Keezhadi in Tamil Nadu has strengthened the idea that an urban civilisation thrived on the banks of Vaigai river. The most recent discoveries have indicated the presence of advanced town planning and infrastructure including water management practices. 

The Department of Archaeology of Tamil Nadu, which is carrying out the excavation at Keezhadi has stated that in the fifth phase of excavation, it has unearthed two red-coloured terracotta pipes fitted to each other in one of the pits. Discovered at 47 centimetres deep inside the pit, the pipes were 60 centimetres long and the mouths of the pipes were 20 centimetres in diameter. The ends of the pipes were shaped and on one of the pipes, there were three holes on one side. Since the pipes were unearthed in a position, in which they were fitted into each other, it should have been used to transport water in those days, a press statement from the department said. 

When dug further in the same pit, a few roof tiles were found at 52 centimetres deep and a brick structure was also discovered. More terracotta pipes were discovered in the fifth phase, which might have been used for different purposes.

One of the most important discoveries of the fifth phase of exploration of the archaeological site is a filter-like structure, which might have been used for filtering liquids or water. The pipe connection opens into a barrel fitted with a filter, which might have been used to save the liquid that passes through the pipe. In the same pit, an open water channel, which had 11 layers and was 5.8 metres long and 1.6 metres wide, was also discovered at a depth of 50 centimetres. This brick structure was covered with roof tiles. The department has stated that this open water channel could be a continuation from the water drain and a tank which was discovered in the second phase of the exploration. The department expects to find a continuation of this water management structure in the future explorations. 

The discovery shows that the Keezhadi civilization was advanced with some central planning involved in water management and infrastructure for the city and a high level of skilled workers who could create such pipes and barrels from terracotta, say experts. The discovery of the open water channel a little away from the site of a water drain and a tank indicates the presence of skilled craftsmanship and advanced engineering knowledge among the people who lived in Keezhadi back then. This could also be a sign of the presence of a much larger town in the area, of which Keezhadi is just a smaller and a basic version. The state Archaeological Department also stated that these discoveries indicate that the society in Keezhadi was a matured one and had advanced knowledge on technology. 

The fifth phase of excavation at Keezhadi was wrapped up on October 13 after four months of exploration. Over 900 artefacts were unearthed during the fifth phase, in which the department dug 51 pits. Pots of different sizes, ceramic shells with inscriptions and semi-precious, engraved stone were among the artefacts unearthed from Keezhadi during the fifth phase of excavation. 

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