Archaeologists working at Keeladi, a historic excavation site located 12 km southeast of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, have unearthed a crystal quartz weighing unit from the Sangam era. The weighing unit, found 175 cm beneath the ground, is the first of its kind since excavations began in Keeladi in 2014.
Key points
- According to the Archaeological Department, a weighing unit made of crystal quartz was found in the 9th phase of excavation at Keeladi.
- This crystal quartz, found about 175 cm below the ground, has been discovered for the first time since the excavation.
- The unique designed crystal unit is somewhat spherical in shape. Its surface is smooth and transparent in nature.
- According to the State Archaeological Department, the crystal quartz weight unit has a diameter of 2 cm, a height of 1.5 cm and a weight of only 8 grams.
- Apart from this, during the excavation, archaeologists have also found a terracotta hopscotch, an iron nail, black and red pottery and a clay snake figurine.
- The discovery has excited historians and archaeologists because in the past, units for measuring weight were mainly made of stone.
- Stone weight units were also found earlier, but they were not made of rock but of minerals.
- These finds suggest that Keeladi was some sort of pearl warehouse or market place.
- These weight units would not have been used for grains or vegetables but for weighing high value commodities like gold, precious and semi-precious stones.
- Crystal or mineral substances are used as weight measuring units because they give accurate results and are not affected by climate.
- An expert said that the crystal quartz unit may have originated in the Kangayam area (near Coimbatore). The Geological Survey of India (GSI) also has its evidence.
- Experts estimate that the quartz probably dates from the period between 600 BC to 2nd century AD.
- In Keeladi, permission was given by the Chief Minister in April to start the ninth phase of excavation.
- Excavations undertaken at sites in Tamil Nadu are significant for the Tamil civilization or Dravidian civilization.
- Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated the ninth phase of excavation at Keeladi and Konthagai through video conference from Chennai on 6 April.
- Excavations are being carried out by archaeologists since 2014 at Keeladi, located 12 kilometers southeast of Madurai in Tamil Nadu.